Next four weeks ‘critical’ as federal vaccine help likely to move on in May
FEMA is expected to pack up and leave May 17, taking 21,000 extra doses of the vaccine with it.
There are 195 article(s) tagged Doug McGowen:
FEMA is expected to pack up and leave May 17, taking 21,000 extra doses of the vaccine with it.
Demand, even with $20 gift cards, is at one-third of the capacity to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
Doug McGowen also says doses were wasted last weekend when the size of the line at the Pipkin Building site was overestimated. He says fewer than 100 doses have been lost since the city took over vaccine distribution in late February.
The co-leaders of the countywide vaccination distribution effort talked on “Behind The Headlines” about a move this week to no appointments for some and why the federal vaccination presence at the Fairgrounds is unique.
City also giving MATA riders free rides to Pipkin and making blocks of slots available to groups, including businesses.
Shelby County is one of five counties in the eight-state FEMA Region 4 to have received the federal infusion.
On April 10, the city could terminate its contract with Waste Pro for poor service or determine that Waste Pro has made good on dealing with the backlog of trash. The council voted Tuesday calling on the administration to cancel the city’s contract.
With ample vaccine, the push is on to get people in line to stem the tide of the rapidly growing U.K. strain, which now accounts for 30%-50% of COVID cases in Shelby County.
Vaccinating 700,000 people — about 70% of the population —would be sufficient for the county to reach herd immunity, according to local public health experts.
A federal partnership with FEMA is bringing 21,000 new vaccine doses each week and a football field-sized tent.
Where the Shelby County Health Department failed, the City of Memphis is so far succeeding as the authority over the local COVID-19 vaccination process. It’s a combination of leadership, an effective command system that touches all levels of the operation and a resolve to be accountable.
The surge in vaccines administered means about 21.2% of Shelby County residents have received at least one shot. That exceeds the overall state population (20.8%), a notable change from the when the county initially lagged behind Tennessee.
“As many doses as I have on hand, that’s how many appointments I will have next week,” said City of Memphis COO Doug McGowen.
Shelby County’s reproductive rate rose to 1 last week for the first time in 2021, indicating cases are again increasing, likely due to the highly contagious U.K. variant.
A state spokesman says Tennessee’s plan emphasizes equity over speed, intentionally focusing on more vulnerable populations first. But only about 20% of West Tennessee’s vaccine appointments are booked each day.
Due to glitches with the state’s VRAS vaccine signup program, Shelby County has reverted to SignUpGenius to schedule appointments, Mayor Jim Strickland announced.
From Feb. 27 through Saturday, Shelby County Health Department reported 82,037 total doses administered, with 55,920 people receiving their first dose and 26,117 more received their second vaccination.
“There are more than 100 qualified providers who can do vaccinations across Shelby County,” said City of Memphis COO Doug McGowen. “We made an allocation to 50 providers yesterday. Next week, 14,000 (doses) will go to those 50 providers.”
To build capacity, the City of Memphis expects to run five or six fixed vaccination sites plus one or two pop-up locations in neighborhoods where access is an issue.
From Feb. 20 to March 6, the Shelby County Health Department reported 66,592 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, compared to 28,705 in the preceding period.
City officials hope to vaccinate at least 700,000 people in Shelby County with at least one dose by Aug. 1. A total of 113,793 people have received at least one shot as of Friday, according to the Health Department.
The state Department of Health announced its decision to move into phase 1c Tuesday afternoon, and the Shelby County Health Department expanded eligibility to the same group Wednesday morning.
The first shipment of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is expected to arrive in Tennessee on Wednesday as local officials increase the anticipated number of vaccines administered by Aug. 1.
City Chief Operating Officer Doug McGowen is in charge of accountability for the city. Deputy of accountability is Fire Department Director Gina Sweat.
The city is investigating using a large call center at the University of Memphis for phone appointments.