City plans ‘get out the vote’ type vaccine campaign
The City of Memphis is ready now to set up phone banks, dispatch street teams.
Topic: Doug McGowen
RSSThere are 77 article(s) tagged Doug McGowen:
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May 2021
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City Council starts budget ‘Super Bowl’ at convention center
The retreat Saturday, May 1, marks the first in-person council meeting in more than a year. It included new details of $16 million in bonuses to city employees in Mayor Jim Strickland’s $716 million budget proposal and a flap over whether team-building exercises and a tour of the Renasant Convention Center were open to reporters.
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April 2021
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India COVID-19 variant detected in Shelby County
One variant linked to India’s recent COVID-19 surge was detected in Shelby County this week, said David Sweat, Shelby County Health Department deputy director.
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No appointments, no lines, but Memphis vaccine rate lags
At last count, 41% of adults in Shelby County had received at least one vaccine; the goal is 70%. Local leaders have done everything from eliminating the need for appointments to giving vaccination recipients gift cards.
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City faces critical decision on one of its most basic services
Memphis has an emergency contract with Team Waste in Area E, probably until the end of 2021. In the interim, officials are considering whether to keep using a private waste company to manage the area or expand city services to cover it.
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A short history of Area E
The solid waste route system covering Cordova, Hickory Hill and East Memphis began as a first step toward privatizing all city solid waste collections during the tenure of a different mayor.
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City faces critical decision on one of its most basic services
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How your solid waste fee ballooned to $30 a month
Here is the history behind the city’s solid waste fee and how it compares to what the city’s new private contractor for Area E is being paid and what the previous contractor was being paid.
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City faces critical decision on one of its most basic services
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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.
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Low vaccine turnout raises questions about how long military needed at Pipkin
Demand, even with $20 gift cards, is at one-third of the capacity to administer COVID-19 vaccines.
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Health officials: 2,000-3,000 locally have received J&J vaccine
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.
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Pandemic end game: Many changes in brief time
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.
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Pipkin has no-appointment evenings, other vaccine incentives
City also giving MATA riders free rides to Pipkin and making blocks of slots available to groups, including businesses.
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Military brings precision, discipline to Pipkin vaccinations
Shelby County is one of five counties in the eight-state FEMA Region 4 to have received the federal infusion.
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Overtime, emergency contracts get Cordova, Area E garbage picked up
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.
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U.K. variant transitioning to dominant COVID-19 strain
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.
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Shelby County is 33% toward its vaccination goal
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.
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Pipkin vaccinations will go 12 hours a day, 7 days a week
A federal partnership with FEMA is bringing 21,000 new vaccine doses each week and a football field-sized tent.
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March 2021
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How the City of Memphis is winning the vaccination effort
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.
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Shelby County surpasses state in vaccination rate
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.
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Next week, vaccine could be depleted by Thursday at mass sites
“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.
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Now being vaccinated: Locals 45 and up
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.
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As other states open vaccinations to all adults, Tenn. defends its slow approach
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.
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Shelby County returns to SignUpGenius
Due to glitches with the state’s VRAS vaccine signup program, Shelby County has reverted to SignUpGenius to schedule appointments, Mayor Jim Strickland announced.
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More than 82,000 vaccinations performed in past 2 weeks
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.
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Doctor’s offices, new appt. system to help speed local vaccination efforts
“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.”
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