Missouri U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Roy Blunt sent a letter today to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging the establishment of a mass vaccination site in Kansas City, Mo., through the Federal Pilot Community Vaccination Centers (CVC) program. The letter comes after recent requests to FEMA from Governor Mike Parson and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.
“As the vaccine rollout continues, we are mindful that easy access to the vaccine close to home is one of the best ways to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine can receive it,” the senators write. “With this month’s announcement that FEMA will help operate a vaccination site in the City of St. Louis for eight weeks, we believe that a parallel effort in Kansas City will facilitate more vaccine access for more Missourians, especially for individuals at high risk for the disease living in the region.”
Full text of the letter is available here and below.
April 15, 2021
Mr. Robert Fenton
Senior Official Performing the Duties of Acting Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C St, SW
Washington, DC 20472
Dear Mr. Fenton:
We write in support of recent requests from Governor Mike Parson and Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City that FEMA establish a vaccination site in Kansas City through its Federal Pilot Community Vaccination Centers (CVC) program. We believe that a federally-supported center will complement existing efforts and help increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine throughout the region.
As the vaccine rollout continues, we are mindful that easy access to the vaccine close to home is one of the best ways to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine can receive it. Drawing upon an additional vaccine supply from the federal government, a CVC will help to build upon the current rollout and allow more flexibility for both residents seeking the vaccine and state and local officials working on distribution. With this month’s announcement that FEMA will help operate a vaccination site in the City of St. Louis for eight weeks, we believe that a parallel effort in Kansas City will facilitate more vaccine access for more Missourians, especially for individuals at high risk for the disease living in the region.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of this request to help accelerate Missouri’s recovery from the pandemic.
Sincerely,
Josh Hawley
U.S. Senator
Roy Blunt
U.S. Senator
CC:
FEMA Region VII Administrator Kathy Fields
11224 Holmes Road
Kansas City, MO 64131