Pfizer announced Monday that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children ages 5 to 11.
The company said it would seek authorization for ages 5 to 11 soon, which is necessary for beginning vaccinations.
According to the Pfizer news release, there would be two doses recommended for children, and the size of the dose is about one-third the size of the adult dose. The doses would be given 21 days apart. Pfizer held a trial among children ages 5 to 11, and it showed effectiveness about the same as the 16 to 25 age group.
For more information, visit www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-positive-topline-results.
According to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Kansas Health System, the news about the vaccine today was “wonderful.” After Pfizer gives its study results to the FDA, the data will probably be evaluated by mid to late October, he said.
Also discussed on Monday was a study from the University of Kansas that showed that 15 counties in Kansas, including Wyandotte County, that had mask mandates in July 2020 had a lower rate of COVID cases than counties that did not have a mask mandate. The study went through October 2020 and was conducted prior to the vaccines being available.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in June. The researchers were Dr. Donna Ginther, dean’s professor of economics and director, Institute for Policy and Social Research at KU, and Dr. Carlos Zambrana, associate researcher at KU.
The counties that had mask mandates had 1,500 fewer hospitalizations and 562 fewer deaths, Dr. Ginther said.
“We found that masks work,” she said.
“It’s essential, especially for young children who cannot yet get the vaccine, that they wear a mask so that they don’t get sick and their families don’t get sick as well,” she said.
The study is at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781283.
To see a video of the morning medical update, visit
https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/1218028218716159.
Vaccines, tests available
The former Kmart building at 7836 State Ave., a Unified Government Health Department vaccination site, will be open for testing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and for free COVID-19 vaccinations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Walk-ins are accepted. There are incentives being offered for Wyandotte County residents, while supplies last. See WycoVaccines.org.
COVID-19 testing from WellHealth will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 S. 20th. Appointments are necessary. The site is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To make an appointment, including a same-day appointment, visit https://www.gogettested.com/kansas.
Mobile vaccines can be requested online at WycoVaccines.org or by calling 3-1-1 (913-573-5311). For more information on the Unified Government Health Department’s vaccine schedule, see WycoVaccines.org.
COVID-19 vaccines and tests are available at other locations in Wyandotte County, including some pharmacies. For locations and availability, visit www.vaccines.gov.
Free vaccinations at KU Health System are open to the public, and appointments are required. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to make an appointment to get vaccinated. KU Health System currently is vaccinating residents of Kansas and Missouri who are 12 or older, by appointment only. Those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout the appointment.
Case numbers reported
The University of Kansas Health System reported 67 total COVID-19 patients on Monday, Sept. 20, an increase of six from Friday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Thirty-five patients with the active virus were inpatients on Monday, an increase of two from Friday. Fifteen patients were in the intensive care unit, a decrease of two from Friday. Only two COVID ICU patients were vaccinated. Nine patients were on ventilators, no change from Friday. Thirty-two other patients were still hospitalized from COVID, but were out of the acute infection phase, a decrease of seven from Friday.
Wyandotte County reported a cumulative 23,591 cases on Monday, Sept. 20, an increase of 89 cases since Friday, Sept. 17, to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative total of 360 deaths on Monday, an increase of six since Friday.
On Wednesday, Sept. 15, the Unified Government Health Department reported that 47.98 percent of Wyandotte County residents had received at least one dose of vaccine. Those completing their vaccinations totaled about 41.34 percent.
The percentage of Wyandotte County residents who were age 12 and older who had received at least one dose was 59 percent.
The Mid-America Regional Council reported 210,596 cases on Monday in Greater Kansas City, a nine-county area. There were a total of 2,832 deaths. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 106.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 399,369 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Monday, Sept. 20, an increase of 2,462 since Friday, Sept. 17. There was a total of 5,916 cumulative deaths reported statewide, an increase of 115 since Sept. 17.
The KDHE reported 73,571 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Johnson County on Sept. 20, an increase of 396 since Sept. 17. Leavenworth County had 9,771 cases on Sept. 20, an increase of 71 since Sept. 17. Sedgwick County (the Wichita area) reported 73,912 cases on Sept. 20, an increase of 678 since Sept. 17.
On Monday, the KHDE reported 11,268 cumulative cases in Douglas County (the Lawrence area), an increase of 81 since Sept. 17. Riley County (the Manhattan area) had 7,457 cumulative cases, an increase of 16 since Sept. 17. Shawnee County (the Topeka area) had 23,959 cumulative cases, an increase of 144 cases since Sept. 17.
On Monday night, there were a cumulative 42,287,755 COVID-19 cases in the United States, with a cumulative 676,059 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
Links
Visit gogettested.com/Kansas and https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19 for more testing sites.
Wyandotte County residents may contact the Health Department at wycohelp.org to sign up for a test to be delivered to their home.
For more details about free COVID-19 testing offered by the UG Health Department, visit https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept or call 3-1-1.
To view details about the extension of the mask order in KCK until Nov. 18, visit https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/ug_extendsmaskmandate_nr_09102021.pdf.
To view the resolution extending the mask order, visit https://www.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/r-62-21.pdf.