TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Kansas provinces are being cleared to begin phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccinations, the governor’s office confirmed.
Government Laura Kelly and Secretary of the Department of Health and Environment in Kansas, dr. Lee Norman, will provide further details at a news conference on Thursday afternoon. Riley County has already announced that it will begin Thursday with limited vaccinations for people over the age of 65 who have contacted their health department.
“After quickly vaccinating 130,000 frontline health workers and seniors in Kansas, my government worked with local health departments and providers to prepare to move Kansas into phase 2,” Governor Laura Kelly said. ‘While it’s important to remember that the vaccination rate depends on the amount we receive from the federal government, we use every available tool to make vaccine delivery transparent, efficient and fast to achieve as much Kansans as possible. ‘
According to the governor’s office, each health department will specifically determine how the next phase progresses. The state has issued guidelines that Phase 2 should include all people aged 65 or older; people living and working in a community setting, including prisons and homeless shelters; and certain critical workers, such as law enforcers, first responders, teachers, and grocery stores. However, given the limited supply of vaccines, provinces may prefer to focus only on portions of those who are eligible, such as the elderly, before expanding to other segments.
The state on Wednesday launched a new vaccination panel for the COVID-19 vaccination. It contains information on the number of doses administered and distributed and a distribution according to age groups. According to the governor’s office, an online “provider tracker” is expected to be launched so that people near them can find the vaccine. Kansas is part of the federal pharmacy partnership for the administration of vaccines in long-term care facilities. The governors’ office says the federations are planning a similar partnership for retail pharmacies for community distribution. They say the state has submitted its list of pharmacies that may participate but are still awaiting federal approval.
Governor Kelly also announces the appointment of Marci Nielsen, Ph.D., MPH as Chief Adviser for COVID-19 Coordination and Seth Konkel to the role of Special Adviser for COVID-19 Vaccination.
“With extensive experience in public health and operations between them, Marci and Seth will be valuable sources of support for my team and the team at the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment as vaccine supply increases,” Governor Kelly said. “I’m glad they’re on board.”
Kelly’s government said Phase 2 guidelines are as follows:
- Persons aged 65 and over
- Critical workers with high contact required to maintain systems, assets and activities essential to state security, the economy or public health, or varying with a large number of contacts and work-related COVID-19 exposure. COVID-19 risk is related to the likelihood that you will infect yourself or spread the virus. Factors that increase the risk include proximity, type of contact, duration of contact and challenges in implementing protective measures. These include:
- Firefighters, police officers, first responders and correctional officers
- Grocery and food services
- K-12 and child care workers, including teachers, guardians, managers and other staff
- Food processing, including meat processing plants
- Large-scale aviation manufacturing facilities
- Transport workers
- Workers in retail, agriculture, providing critical services or materials for COVID-19 response, the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Motor Vehicles
- Those who live and work in licensed congregations or live in other special care or congregational environments where social distance is not possible, including:
- Homeless shelters
- Municipal institutions for child care
- Emergency shelters or safe houses
- Correction facilities
- Behavioral Health Institutions
Click here to see a visual representation of Kansas’ vaccination distribution order.
Click here for more information on vaccine distribution.
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