Missouri has joined Texas in pushing back against federal employees going door-to-door to get people vaccinated against COVID-19.
Two weeks ago, Missouri asked for help from the federal government’s new “surge response” teams to help combat a spike in the fast-spreading Delta variant. But after President Biden suggested possibly sending employees door-to-door to promote the vaccine, Republican Gov. Mike Parson (R) shot down the idea.
“I have directed our health department to let the federal government know that sending government employees or agents door-to-door to compel vaccination would NOT be an effective OR a welcome strategy in Missouri,” Parson tweeted.
Statewide, hospitalizations rose to 1,034 last Monday, up nearly 60% from the 648 reported one month earlier. In southwest Missouri, hospitalizations rose nearly 124%, up from 387 to 173.
