The Unified Government Public Health Department has provided additional information on who is eligible for booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and where to get those additional doses in Wyandotte County.
This announcement follows information released late Wednesday announcing that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for certain groups of people. The complete statement from the FDA can be found at https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-booster-dose-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-certain-populations.
It also follows the recommendation of Dr. Rachel Walensky, CDC director, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).
“We have been anticipating this announcement from the FDA, CDC, and KDHE for several days, so we are ready to begin offering these booster shots to anyone who qualifies, as of today,” said Juliann Van Liew, director of the UG Health Department. “The Pfizer booster shots will be available at our vaccination facility at the former Kmart site, plus at a variety of other places throughout Wyandotte County. We urge anyone who is eligible to get their booster shot, both for their own health and wellbeing and to better help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Wyandotte County.”
On Wednesday, the FDA amended the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, making it possible for select members of the public to receive a single booster dose. This booster dose must be administered at least six months after completion of the primary vaccination series and is available only to people who have been previously vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and who fall within the recommended groups. The recommendation does not allow for providing a booster dose of Pfizer for anyone who has been previously vaccinated with Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met on Thursday to discuss and vote on its recommendations concerning booster shots and who should get them. According to the CDC, the organization’s updated interim guidance “allows for millions of Americans who are at highest risk for COvID-19 to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COvID-19 booster shot to help increase their protection.”
The CDC recommends the following:
• people 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
• people aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series,
• people aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks, and
• people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
Underlying medical conditions can include (but aren’t limited to) conditions such as cancer, chronic lung or kidney disease, dementia, diabetes, Down syndrome, heart conditions, HIV infection, liver disease, obesity, pregnancy and others. View the complete list of what the CDC defines as “underlying medical conditions.” https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html.
According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), these “occupational or institutional” settings include health care workers, teachers, grocery store workers, retail workers, first responders, residents and staff of congregant settings (such as corrections facilities, homeless shelters, group homes, etc.) and many others.
Where to get a booster shot in Wyandotte County
People who live in Wyandotte County and fall into one of the categories outlined in the CDC recommendations can now come to the Health Department’s vaccination facility to get their booster shot for free. No insurance is required.
Van Liew outlined what eligible people need to know before arriving to receive their booster dose:
• The Health Department encourages patients to bring their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card to help expedite the process.
• Patients will be asked to sign a form attesting that they qualify for this booster dose because they fall into one of the categories of the public outlined in the updated CDC guidance, as listed above.
Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available at the former Kmart building at 7836 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
Van Liew also pointed out that these booster doses are available at a wide variety of other locations throughout Wyandotte County, including many pharmacies, medical practitioners and other healthcare providers. To learn more about where booster doses are available near them, people should visit vaccines.gov.
Free vaccinations and incentives still available
In addition to these booster doses, the Health Department continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccines for people who live in Wyandotte County age 12 and older, at the former Kmart site at 7836 State Ave. All of the services are free. Hours for COVID-19 vaccinations and testing:
• COVID testing: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• COVID vaccines: Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Incentives for those who get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Kmart facility are still available, through Sept. 30. Get more information on available vaccine incentives at WycoVaccines.org.
For more information on where to get vaccinated in Wyandotte County, visit WycoVaccines.org or call 3-1-1. To learn more about upcoming Health Department mobile vaccination events visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
Vaccines, tests available
COVID-19 testing and vaccines will be available from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at the Cross-Lines Community Outreach, 726 Shawnee Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The testing and vaccines are free. No appointment is needed. Those getting a test may receive a $25 gift card and those receiving a vaccine may get a $25 gift card provided by the Unified Government Health Department. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be provided. Third doses of Pfizer vaccines are available for moderately and severely immunocompromised.
COVID-19 vaccines and testing are available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at the Vibrant Health Cordell D. Meeks Jr. Clinic, 4313 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. No appointment is necessary.
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. Monday, Sept. 27, 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 70 total COVID-19 patients on Friday, Sept. 24, a decrease of two from Thursday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Thirty-two patients with the active virus were inpatients on Friday, a decrease of three from Thursday. Eleven patients were in the intensive care unit, a decrease of two since Thursday. None of the patients in the ICU was vaccinated. Nine patients were on ventilators on Friday, no change from Thursday. Thirty-eight other patients were still hospitalized from COVID, but were out of the acute infection phase, an increase of one from Thursday.
Wyandotte County reported a cumulative 23,788 cases on Friday, Sept. 24, an increase of 65 cases since Thursday, Sept. 23, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There were a cumulative total of 361 deaths on Friday, no change since Thursday.
On Wednesday, Sept. 22, the Unified Government Health Department reported that 48.34 percent of Wyandotte County residents had received at least one dose of vaccine. Those completing their vaccinations totaled about 41.46 percent.
The percentage of Wyandotte County residents who were age 12 and older who had received at least one dose was 59.5 percent.
The Mid-America Regional Council reported 213,612 cases on Sunday in Greater Kansas City, a nine-county area. There were a total of 2,892 deaths. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 112.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 404,459 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Friday, Sept. 24, an increase of 2,528 since Wednesday, Sept. 22. There was a total of 5,981 cumulative deaths reported statewide, an increase of 62 since Sept. 22.
The KDHE reported 74,174 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Johnson County on Sept. 24, an increase of 305 since Sept. 22. Leavenworth County had 9,863 cases on Sept. 24, an increase of 58 since Sept. 22. Sedgwick County (the Wichita area) reported 75,199 cases on Sept. 24, an increase of 686 since Sept. 22.
On Sunday night, there were a cumulative 42,931,259 COVID-19 cases in the United States, with a cumulative 688,032 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.