St. Louis-area group homes couldn't get vaccine. The state's advice? Be 'scrappy'
WEBSTER GROVES Maria Schroeder was worried and increasingly anxious. It was weeks after coronavirus vaccine distribution had started in Missouri, and she still had 11 intellectually disabled residents who required 24-hour support and no vaccine.
She expected someone to tell her how to get it. Finally, in mid-January, the state sent her a list.
But Schroeder, assistant director for LArche St. Louis, which runs three group homes in St. Louis County, quickly realized the list was cluttered with every brick-and-mortar CVS, Walgreens and Costco locations that, while approved to vaccinate, often had no doses of vaccine.
Over the next two work days, Schroeder made 200 calls.
Were a very small agency, we dont have a lot of connections, said Schroeder. It was very obvious if I didnt do this, we werent going to get vaccines.
Read more: https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/st-louis-area-group-homes-couldn-t-get-vaccine-the-state-s-advice-be-scrappy/article_9f99155e-ecb6-53b2-ae1b-c42572419824.html