Select Kansas City hospitals begin first round of mass vaccinations today with sites across metro

Three metro hospitals have opened as mass vaccination sites beginning this week for those with existing appointments.

Missouri’s Department of Health and Human Services website shows that Truman Medical Center, Liberty Hospital and North Kansas City Hospital are among the three local hospitals holding week-long clinics as of Monday, Feb. 1.

The metro hospitals selected are among numerous locations across Missouri chosen to receive a portion of the state’s weekly allocation of COVID-19 vaccinations.

The broad-spanning effort is part of a statewide goal to achieve consistent and effective distribution of the vaccine.

No walk-ins are being accepted at any of the Kansas City metro hospitals for the COVID-19 vaccine. Each hospital is anticipated to administer roughly 5,000 doses per week for those with appointments, although for much of the state, the exact number of doses sent will be determined by regional population.

A second round of vaccinations will open more sites and will be held the week of Feb. 15.

Other metro vaccination clinics will be held at HCA Health System and St. Luke’s Health System hospitals at a later date.

“We are committed to fairly allocating doses in regions throughout the state and working with vaccinators to ensure efficient administration of the vaccine,” Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said. “Our partnership with the selected hospitals will help provide the consistency needed for effective planning of high-volume vaccine clinics to occur at the local level.”

Missouri officials said the state is sending 53 percent of its estimated 76,000 weekly vaccines it receives to these select hospitals statewide. Other vaccines are shipped to state-run vaccination sites.