DHSS: More than 1.1 million Missourians have received third COVID dose

State health officials say an average of more than 15,000 COVID vaccine doses have been administered each day during the past week.

While he opposes mandates, Governor Mike Parson continues to encourage Missourians to get vaccinated.

“Every Missourian knows right now where to get a vaccine. They know what the vaccine does. And when you look at our state, we’re at the mid-90s right now for anyone 65 years and older, for people 18 years and older, we’re at 72 73 percent, that has taken the vaccine,” Parson says.

Governor Parson tells Capitol reporters that the vaccine works. The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says more than 1.1 million Missourians have now received a third COVID vaccine dose.

The governor spoke at a recent Statehouse news conference, where Capitol reporters also asked about the 2022 session. It begins today at noon in Jefferson City.

The GOP governor still supports the gas tax approved by lawmakers in 2021, and says it was the right thing for Missouri to do. Legislation has been filed by GOP lawmakers in both chambers to repeal that gas tax.

“I think there’s been a lot of positive things behind that. So we’ll see what the Legislature does, but it’s way too early to predict what the legislative actions are going to be or what the end game will be on that,” says Parson.

The 12-cent gasoline tax increase signed by Parson last year increases the state’s gas tax by 2.5 cents a year for five years. It’s Missouri’s first gasoline tax increase in 25 years.