We believe Missourians deserve better health outcomes.
MOCPHE Annual Report
As leaders in the field of public health, MOCPHE members have worked tirelessly during the COVID pandemic to provide guidance, develop sample policies, advocate for local public health, and provide education about proven public health prevention methods.
MOCPHE joined other public health leaders and stakeholders to form the Coalition for Healthy Missouri Communities. It led the One for All Missouri public information campaign. It worked with #HealthierMO, George Washington University, and Harvard University on research and data collection projects to inform public health system transformation efforts that support a healthier Missouri for all residents.
Read MOCPHE's 2020 Annual Report to learn additional ways the organization and its members have engaged over the past year to help assure Missourians achieve better health outcomes.
Flu Vaccinations Vital
Public health experts stress the importance of preventing the combination of COVID and influenza this fall. In response to this concern, MOCPHE supports recommendations from CDC and other experts that every person 6 months or older receive a seasonal influenza (flu) vaccination this fall. A few exceptions may apply to individuals with medical contraindications to the flu vaccine.
MOCPHE recommends required influenza vaccination for school-aged children.
MOCPHE offers guidance to local public health agencies and health care providers considering safe and effective flu vaccination strategies, while maintaining masking and physical distancing precautions against COVID.
COVID Prevention
Missouri has a statewide plan to vaccinate residents as efficiently as possible, as more COVID vaccine becomes available. All Missourians are now eligible for vaccinations, and
MOCPHE encourages everyone to register on the state's Vaccine Navigator portal. A notification will be sent to eligible persons when vaccine is available in their area, inviting them to schedule an appointment at a local vaccination event.
Once you have been fully vaccinated, you can begin spending time with vaccinated family and friends again without wearing a mask, according to guidance from CDC. Missouri's public health professionals caution, though, that you continue to wear a mask and maintain social distancing in most circumstances.
Vaccination will not be the only solution to stopping COVID. MOCPHE agress that individual responsibility is still important. All Missourians must work together to stop COVID transmission, by getting vaccinated, continuing to wear a mask, keeping a 6-foot distance from others, washing hands, and staying home when ill. Each of these strategies is vital to stopping the COVID pandemic.
Guidance for Schools
MOCPHE recognizes that the Missouri School Board Association's guidance for school districts. MOCPHE recognizes districts face unique situations and there is no standard template that will fit the needs of every school.
MOCPHE offers an updated minimum set of guidelines as a recommendation, to support Missouri school districts in their planning efforts.
Local public health departments and schools are already working together closely and will continue to do so to protect the health of students, staff, and the community.
Face Coverings Effective
Face masks reduce disease spread by decreasing the likelihood that infectious respiratory droplets from persons with COVID-19 travel into the air and infect uninfected people. MOCPHE recommends the use of face masks by the general public when outside the home and supports face mask requirements, like those being putting in place in many jurisdictions in Missouri.
Local public health agencies are given the responsibility and authoritiy under Missouri Revised State Statutes, Chapter 205, Section 100 to set rules and regulatoins to ensure and protect health.
MOCPHE joins Missouri Foundation for Health in calling for all Missouri residents and visitors to wear masks, and for all leaders to encourage and require the wearing of face masks.
Face Mask Orders:
Adair County (until rescinded), Kirksville (until rescinded)
Clay County (until rescinded)
Jackson County (updated 7/20/2020)
Lafayette County (until rescinded)
North Kansas City (until rescinded)
Pettis County (until rescinded)
Platte County (updated 7/16/2020)
Springfield (extended 4/9/2021)
St. Louis City (updated 11/14/2020)
St. Louis County (until rescinded)
Taney County (until rescinded)
Racism & Social Equity
Racism and Social Inequity is a public health crisis. Too many Black Americans have lost their lives and suffered and are suffering. Racism and Social Inequity has become a part of our public policy, and intertwined into our current public systems, structures, and services.
MOCPHE is committed to eliminating the systems that have allowed these inequities to exist. Racism and Social Iniquity has no place in our society. MOCPHE is committed to ensuring that the highest standards of public health practice and services are available and accessible to all people from all backgrounds in all regions of Missouri.
Listing of Jurisdictions Declaring Racism a Public Health Issue, APHA
New Member
MOCPHE welcomes the Andrew County Health Department as a new member.
The Andrew County Health Department has been serving its community since 1975. The department works with partners to assess the health status and needs of its community, develop policies and procedures, and assure it respondings appropriately to public health needs in Andrew County. The department is led by Administrator Andrew Hoffman.
Clear COVID Messaging
The One For All MO campaign encourages all public health agencies and partners to use a single set of consistent, clear messages to reduce confusion and help Missourians make the best possible decisions about their own health and protect their communities from COVID-19.
The campaign is a partnership between MOCPHE and Missouri Foundation for Health. Core key messages, tools, and templates can be used by all Missouri public health agencies and partners.
Start sharing the message! Learn more at https://www.oneforallmo.com/.
Collaboration
In partnership with Missouri's Professional Organizations focused on public health and the #HealthierMO grassroots initiative, MOCPHE sent a letter of support to Governor Parson, encouraging development of a statewide prescription drug monitoring program that builds on the model developed by St. Louis County.
The group is working to identify priority public health issues for the upcoming 2021 legislative session.
Learn more at HealthierMO.org