JEFFERSON CITY — As the federal government arrives in Springfield at Missouri’s request to combat a surge of aggressive COVID-19 variant cases, Gov. Mike Parson has warned them not to go door-to-door urging vaccination.
“I have directed our health department to tell the federal government that sending government employees or agents door-to-door to compel vaccination would NOT be an effective OR welcome strategy in Missouri!” Parson wrote on Twitter on Wednesday night.
“We will continue to offer convenient vaccination options to all Missourians for those who want a COVID-19 vaccine,” he added.
The characterization was quickly refuted by a White House official on Thursday who said the outreach is not being done by federal agents alone.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced a strategy to boost vaccinations by sending more doses to trusted local pharmacies and family doctors, encouraging employers to encourage vaccinations at work and deploying mobile vaccine clinics to community events.
“We need to go community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood, and oftentimes, door to door — literally knocking on doors — to get help to the remaining people…” he said. “We’re going to put even more emphasis on getting vaccinated in your community, close to home, conveniently at a location you’re already familiar with.”
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki later characterized the approach as “door-to-door outreach.”
The first of a two-person “surge response team” from the federal government, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention epidemiologist, arrived in Springfield on Wednesday.
Missouri and Greene County had requested help from the team as it faces an onslaught of COVID cases, driven by the more infectious and deadly delta variant.
Asked about Parson’s comment, Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, warned against efforts to mischaracterize the door-to-door outreach, which is being conducted on a local level by doctors, faith leaders and other trusted community messengers in partnership with the administration.
“We’ve seen movement by going person by person, community by community in states where neighbors have contacted neighbors. This is important work that’s leading to more vaccinations and it’s done by people who care about the health of their family, friends and neighbors,” Zients said.
“So I would say for those individuals or organizations that are feeding misinformation and trying to mischaracterize this type of trusted messenger work, I believe you are doing a disservice to the country and to the doctors, the faith leaders, the community leaders and others who are working to get people vaccinated, save lives and help end this pandemic.”
No county in southwest Missouri has more than 35% of its population fully vaccinated; statewide, the number is just under 40%. Experts say 70-80% is needed for herd immunity. The recent outbreak has affected mostly the unvaccinated population, local health and hospital officials have said.
The team is in Missouri is in place until August 6. The CDC epidemiologist will provide assistance with genetic sequencing and data analysis as health officials investigate an outbreak potentially related to the delta variant, a Biden administration official said Wednesday.
In addition, the CDC has provided a communication specialist to assist the state’s Bureau of Immunizations with vaccine hesitancy and low vaccination rates, which has caused COVID cases to surge.
Parson’s response echoed the comments of several other Republican state officials who have pushed back on a door-to-door vaccination strategy.
Some states’ surge team efforts could include going door-to-door for outreach, Dr. Cameron Webb, White House senior policy adviser for COVID-19 equity, told The Star on Wednesday. But Webb emphasized the team in Missouri would determine what works best in each community.
“In the places where we think that kind of approach is going to be impactful, certainly, we’re going to encourage it,” Webb said. “There’s no one-size-fits-all with this pandemic. We’ve seen that in every aspect of this pandemic. So this is truly right-sizing the intervention to the locality.”
Pressure has mounted on Parson to push vaccination more aggressively as the delta variant slams hospitals in southwest Missouri.
On Wednesday, he told reporters his administration is considering an incentive program. But he has largely emphasized taking a vaccine is a personal responsibility, and pointed to higher vaccination rates among the 65-and-older population.
“We want to do what we can to encourage people to take the vaccine,” he said.
Lowry reported from McClatchy’s DC bureau.
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It isn’t welcome anywhere. -Biden is campaigning for vaccinations a hell of a lot harder than he campaigned for President. Guess he figures now that he has power and he is a Leftie, he can do whatever he wants.
And when one of their recently released from prison robbers or rapists shows up wanting to give you the needle, filled with knockout drops or heroin, will Joe take the responsibility for the results? Just how many chuckleheaded ways can Joe think up to make you and your family vulnerable to their social molestations? Perhaps they think they already have enough of us hooked on their over the border illegal drugs to have their way with us already doped on our own doorsteps, and perhaps while in a stupor, have us sign more forged 2022 ballots to use in the next election? When it comes to their mischief, there is no place to hide.
SINCE the GOP and courts seem too SPINELESS to stop him, of course these mini-dictators in charge, seem to think they can do what ever they damn well want.
“,Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator”. If they show a photo of Jeff Zients, will Zients have a Gestapo / Stasi uniform on? We are the deep state Gestapo / Stasi, we will be coming to your door and you “must” open your door when we knock on your door, by orders of the deep state in Washington DC.