Vaccines

After receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, some people are reporting heavier menstrual cycles and more cramping. To date, there are no published scientific studies about a possible link, but researchers are looking into it.

Workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Navy have arrived in downtown St. Louis to help vaccinate people against the coronavirus. State and local officials hope the two-month immunization event at the Dome at America’s Center will help fill the city’s “vaccination gap.” Nearly 28% of Missouri’s population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, only 19% of people in St. Louis have.

Missouri Teachers began lining up Monday for coronavirus vaccines after teachers unions pressured the state to make them eligible sooner.

Some councilmembers were upset that St. Louis County Executive Sam Page hired former Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray as vaccine outreach coordinator.

As a result of the influx of outstate people trying to "cheat the system," fewer people in St. Clair County were able to receive their shots. None of the people who registered from other states got the vaccine.

St. Louis County extends its curfew on restaurants, bars and banquet centers to 11 p.m. beginning Monday.

Black doctors in the St. Louis region are trying to debunk false information by talking about the vaccine with their African American patients and to Black organizations. Doctors fear that if not enough Black people take the vaccine, their communities will continue to suffer with more hospitalizations and deaths.

Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday that law enforcement personnel, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other emergency workers are eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine. Missourians 65 or older or those with chronic health conditions will be eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine starting next week.

As Vaccines began arriving at Illinois nursing homes and other long-term care facilities Monday. Metro East leaders said the facilities have been addressing skepticism among some residents and staff as part of the vaccination rollout.

Vaccinations will begin on Dec. 28, CVS Health said. Nearly 600 Missouri skilled nursing and assisted living facilities have partnered with the health care company.