Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association

covid-19 resources

Please note: This information provided is for educational purposes.  Any agency who wishes to implement practices listed must follow appropriate procedures for approval from Administration and Medical Direction as outlined per MoBEMS regulations. 

Newest Additions

Vaccination MOU

Numerous EMS agencies are assisting with providing COVID vaccinations, homebound etc.  DHSS and some LPHA's indicated the need for a template MOU between EMS and LPHA's for this type of work. Certainly any MOU should be reviewed or produced by your local attorney.

The option available here is the creation of a retired, thus non-practicing attorney serving as a consultant during the pandemic.  DHSS has reviewed it. We are providing this for your consideration as needed. 

Waiver to allow Vaccinations by EMTs Approved

The waiver allowing EMT Basics to administer the COVID-19 vaccination has been approved. Additionally, the Standing Orders issued by Dr. Williams have been revised to include the waiver language, as well as cover the new Janssen vaccination. Please see below for more information. 

EMT Basic Scope of Practice

This waiver allows EMT Basics to administer the COVID-19 immunizations via the intramuscular route. The EMT-Basic shall receive training regarding the administration of such immunization that has been approved by a physician and a physician shall approve that the EMT-Basic is competent in this skill to administer such immunization.  See the waiver here.

Resource: Just in Time Training Resources for EMT SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinators

Standing Orders

These standing orders authorize EMT Basics and Emergency Medical Responders to administer this vaccine, provided that such individual has completed and passed a standardized training conducted under the direction of a medical director or other licensed physician, which includes clinical training regarding the administration of immunizations via the intramuscular route. Such training shall, at a minimum, educate and train the participant with the information provided in - Just in Time Training Resources for EMT SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinators, NHTSA Office of EMS, issued February 7, 2021.   SO for Moderna  /  SO for Pfizer  /  SO for Janssen

EMS Registration Waiver

This waiver allows Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians, Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technician-Basics, and Emergency Medical Responders, who do not have authority to vaccinate individuals with a COVID-19 vaccine within the State of Missouri, to do so under the following conditions:

-Such individual must have previously received immunization training and be allowed to administer immunizations via the intramuscular route in another state.

-Such individual alerts the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services of their intention to administer a COVID-19 vaccine in Missouri and provides their professional credentials.

  • Paramedics: Currently, the following surrounding states DO allow Paramedics to administer the COVID-19 vaccination: Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma. Paramedics from these states CAN administer the vaccination in the State of Missouri with proper notification to the BEMS.
  • AEMTs: Currently, the following surrounding states DO allow AEMTs to administer the COVID-19 vaccination: Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma. AEMTs from these states CAN administer the vaccination in the State of Missouri with proper notification to the BEMS.
  • EMTs: Currently, the following surrounding states DO NOT allow EMTs to administer the COVID-19 vaccination: Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, and Arkansas. EMTs from these states CANNOT administer the vaccination in the State of Missouri with proper notification to the BEMS.
  • EMTs: Currently, the following surrounding states DO allow EMTs to administer the COVID-19 vaccination: Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. EMTs from these states CAN administer the vaccination in the State of Missouri with proper notification to the BEMS.
  • EMRs: Currently, the following surrounding states DO NOT allow EMRs to administer the COVID-19 vaccination: Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky. EMRs from these states CANNOT administer the vaccination in the State of Missouri with proper notification to the BEMS.
  • EMRs: Currently, the following surrounding states DO allow EMRs to administer the COVID-19 vaccination: Oklahoma. EMRs from these states CAN administer the vaccination in the State of Missouri with proper notification to the BEMS.

Please contact the Bureau of EMS if you have questions.

EMS Now in Phase 1A Vaccination Plan (1/11/21)

Vaccinators should begin to provide doses to employees in all 1A groups. Through the partnership and feedback received from the Equitable Vaccination Advisory Committee, a more detailed breakdown of 1A patient-facing healthcare workers has been developed and can be seen below. Many in 1A are employed by an unaffiliated healthcare provider. An unaffiliated healthcare provider is one who is not affiliated with a hospital/healthcare system or other enrolled vaccinator.

  • Group A: Hospitals, Long-term care facilities and residents, including Department of Mental Health (DMH)-operated facilities.
  • Group B: Home health, Hospice, Dialysis centers, Urgent care.
  • Group C: Vaccinator staff and those administering COVID testing.
  • Group D: Congregate community healthcare settings, including DMH contracted settings (staff and residents) and adult day cares
  • Group E: EMS and high-risk non-congregate healthcare, including clinics, private physicians, and home care providers.
  • Group F: All remaining patient-facing healthcare providers, including but not limited to health care workers in emergency shelters, dental offices, school nurses, pharmacies, public health clinics, mental/behavioral health providers, and correctional settings.

Vaccinators should begin providing doses to employees in all 1A groups. 

A list of vaccinators is available here.

You will be instructed to identify yourself as an unaffiliated healthcare provider in 1A, inform the vaccinator of your provider type (EMS) and communicate the number of healthcare workers you have a need to vaccinate when contacting your location.

Additional Details

1A providers/employers are instructed to contact local vaccinators and arrange for a partnership to vaccinate your staff in the area. Once a partnership agreement has been established via communication between the provider/employer and the vaccinator, it is the expectation of the vaccinator to arrange for ordering supply to meet the cumulative demand of agreements made. 

One-stop shop for resources and all your questions

As a reminder, all of the latest information can be found on our website, www.MOstopsCovid.com. After reviewing, if you still have questions, please direct them to CovidVaccine@health.mo.gov.

EMS Physician Vaccination Town Hall from NAEMT - 1/8/21

Watch the recording here.
Dec. 10, 2020 Meeting Briefing Document (FDA) - Pfizer Vaccine Chart on Page 30

General Links/Resources

      COVID-19 VACCINATION PLANNING (9/27/20)


      Missouri Resources

      N95 Mask Decontamination Service

      DHSS is currently working with Battelle on a N95 decontamination option.  Battelle is a company in Ohio that has been in business for 90 years. They are working with the federal government—FEMA and others—to provide N95 mask decontamination. The service is free but there are exact instructions to follow in packaging the masks and sending them for decontamination.

      See documents here:

      The first step is to sign an agreement with Battelle, and then information will fall into place.  Decontamination will take place in Jefferson City.  One of the documents is a map showing the local sites for drop off—all national guard armories. Couriers will take the boxes from the armories to Jeff City.  Every effort will be made to return the masks to the drop-off/pick-up site within 72 hours. The agency will get the same masks they sent in.

      See the documents above and reach out to DHSS or Battelle with questions.


      CDC Links 

      CMS & COVID-19

      N95 Usage/Re-use

      Advocacy

      News & Feedback Needed

      • DDTC Announces New COVID-Related Measures Covering Registration and Licensing (4/29/20)
      • Advanced Estate Planning Solutions: Responding to COVID-19 (4/29/20)
      • Supply chain choked by demand for protective gear (4/8/20)

      • COVID-19 Impact in Missouri - Feedback Requested
        As we work through the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic across our state, we would like to begin tracking the impact the virus is having on our response community.  We have developed a web-based product to capture this impact data.  Although your participation is voluntary, it will help provide a statewide and regional assessment of the virus's effects on all the responder disciplines we're attempting to track.  Thank you for participating.  The following link allows response agencies to complete a short survey and provide information on responder COVID-19 cases.   https://arcg.is/8r51n

        This single link is for use by all fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical service agencies in Missouri and may be completed from any computer, smart phone, or tablet.

      CARES Act Grant and Stimulus Programs

      There are a few programs that organizations are using to help with liquidity during the COVID-19 pandemic:

      • CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The CARES Act provides significant funding for Section 7(a) Payroll Protection Program loans for organizations with fewer than 500 employees. If your organization satisfies the eligibility criteria it may be eligible to receive a loan equal to 2 ½ times your average monthly payroll up to a maximum of $10 million to fund payroll, rent, utilities and interest on mortgages, and existing debt. The best part is that some or all of the loan may be forgiven when you meet the conditions under PPP.
      • SBA Emergency Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL): SBA EIDL has been approved for COVID-19 funding for all states. Loans are for working capital and organizations can receive up to $2 million. Loans bear interest at 3.75% for businesses and 2.75% for nonprofits. Payments are deferred for one year.
      • CARES Act’s Emergency Grant: Organizations applying for the EIDL can also qualify for an additional $10,000 emergency grant, paid within 3 days, even if the application is denied.
      • Midsized Loan Program: CARES Act provides $500 billion that can be used for the Treasury to make and guarantee loans. Interest rates are not to exceed 2% and eligible businesses include those with 500 to 10,000 employees. The loans contain various provisions related to the workforce, dividends, etc. More guidance on the application process is expected by mid-April.
      • Other Grant Programs: As a result of the CARES Act and other relief and emergency funding opportunities, there will be more grant opportunities available at the federal, state, and philanthropic / foundation level.  There will be opportunities available for businesses, state and local governments, higher education institutions, health care related entities, and nonprofits. Many of these funding opportunities and programs are still “trickling down” from the federal level or are still being developed by the funding agencies and in most cases the application process is not yet set up. 
      • LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CARES ACT HERE.

      Other Resources

      Recorded Webinars/Online Training

      Other Links


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