Saint Francis warns of vaccine phone scam

Saint Francis Healthcare System has received reports of a COVID vaccine phone scam where an unidentified caller attempts to schedule a COVID vaccine at Saint Francis. The caller provides instructions for receiving the vaccine and asks for a social security number to schedule an appointment.

This is a scam.

“Although Saint Francis may call to schedule an appointment, we will never ask for your complete social security number for scheduling,” officials said Wednesday.

If you believe you have received a scam phone call, please hang up and disregard. If you believe you gave confidential information to a scam caller, please visit https://identitytheft.gov/ to report.

The vaccine allocation received for this week has been exhausted and all vaccination appointments at Saint Francis are now taken, hospital officials said. Saint Francis has requested an additional 10,000 vaccines for next week. The provider will update its website and Facebook page when it receives confirmation of the next shipment.

In accordance with the directive from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Saint Francis began vaccinating individuals in Phase 1B Tier 2 on Wednesday, in addition to those in Phase 1A and 1B Tier 1.

Saint Francis requested 10,000 doses and received nearly half the amount requested for this week’s distribution. Saint Francis will continue to request and receive additional doses weekly.

All individuals in Phase 1A, 1B Tier 1 and 1B Tier 2 are eligible to receive the vaccine at Saint Francis.

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, call 573-381-5958.

Phase 1B Tier 2 includes high-risk individuals:

- Anyone aged 65 and older

- Adults with the following conditions:

• Cancer

• Chronic Kidney Disease

• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

• Intellectual and/or developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome

• Heart Conditions such as heart failure, CAD (coronary artery disease) or

cardiomyopathies

• Immunocompromised state from solid organ transplant

• Severe Obesity (BMI >40kg/m2)

• Pregnancy

• Sickle Cell Disease

• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Phase 1A includes Patient-Facing Health Care Workers and Long-Term Care Facility Residents and Staff:

­­— Hospitals, Long-term care facilities and residents, including Department of Mental Health- operated facilities.

­­— Home health, Hospice, Dialysis centers, Urgent care.

­­— Vaccinator staff and those administering COVID testing.

­­— Congregate community health care settings staff and residents, including DMH contracted settings and adult day cares.

­­— EMS and high-risk non-congregate health care, including clinics, physicians, and home care providers.

­­— All remaining patient-facing health care 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.

Phase 1B Tier 1 includes First Responders, Emergency Services and Public Health Infrastructure:

­­— Non-Patient Facing Public Health Infrastructure: Administrators and staff at federal, state or local public health agencies and other health care workers who carry out functions necessary to the operation of the state’s health care infrastructure not included in 1A.

­­— First Responders: All federal, state, and/or local first responders beyond EMS/EMTs in 1A, including law enforcement, fire services, corrections and certain social service agencies.

­­— Emergency Management and Public Works: Federal, state, or local government employees in emergency management and public works agencies, identified nonprofit organizations designated as partner voluntary agencies.

­­— Emergency Services Sector: Employees defined in the emergency services sector not otherwise listed, including law enforcement, fire and rescue services, emergency medical services, emergency management, and public works.