[NFBMO] Fwd: Article from Saint Louis Post Dispatch Local News Section 2021 07 22

[Fred Olver]

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> From: NFB-NEWSLINE Online <publications at nfbnewsline.net>
> Date: July 23, 2021 at 6:18:23 AM CDT
> To: Fred Olver <fredolver at gmail.com>
> Subject: Article from Saint Louis Post Dispatch Local News Section 2021 07 22
> 
> Missouri receives 100,000 entries to state vaccine incentive program in less than a day ST. LOUIS Less than a day after Missouri officials announced a program to incentivize residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19, the state had received 100,000 entries into the program. On Wednesday Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced the program , which will offer 900 Missourians $10,000 prizes. That day, the state vaccine website received the most traffic since February, the state said. "Just about every state that has executed a comprehensive incentive program does have a higher vaccination rate than the state of Missouri," Robert Knodell, acting director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, said at a briefing on Thursday. Missouri ranks in the lowest 15 states for percent of residents with at least one dose, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state reported on Thursday that 2.86 million people have received a first dose of vaccine, or 47% of the population, and 41% of Missourians have been fully vaccinated. Nationwide, 56% of the population have received at least one dose, and 49% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Meanwhile, health departments and hospitals have been pushing for more Missourians to get vaccinated as the more easily transmissible delta variant of the virus has spread throughout the state. Missouri reported 3,346 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the highest daily total since mid-January, according to a Post-Dispatch analysis , and eight more deaths due to the virus. Florida, Texas and Missouri accounted for 40% of the new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. this week, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said at a briefing Thursday. Missouri is also working on a second vaccine incentive program, which would allow local public health agencies to offer up to $25 gift cards for each person who is vaccinated, for a total of up to $11 million. That would mean incentives for up to 440,000 vaccinations. Local public health agencies have to apply by Aug. 15. The program will be paid for through immunization grant funds that are directed to the state by the CDC. Vaccinated Missourians are not automatically entered for a chance to win the $10,000 residents have to opt in by registering on the state COVID-19 vaccine website . Those without internet access can call the state coronavirus hotline, which is available on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 877-435-8411. People should only register once, the state said. For those under the age of 18, the prizes would be awarded in education savings accounts. There are separate categories for residents who were vaccinated before and after the program was announced. Knodell said state officials hope to ultimately have winners in almost every county in the state. 
> 
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