All Kansas residents with appointments may be vaccinated
The Unified Government Health Department will be adding evening and morning hours for residents to get COVID-19 vaccines.
Also, beginning Monday, April 19, the Health Department will vaccinate all Kansas residents who make an appointment for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, according to the announcement.
Wyandotte County residents and those who work in Wyandotte County will be able to walk in to the vaccine sites and receive their COVID-19 vaccination, a Health Department news release stated.
“We have the capacity to administer vaccinations to many more people than we are currently seeing in our facilities,” said Juliann Van Liew, director of the Unified Government Public Health Department, in the news release. “It’s time to use that capacity to benefit any Kansas resident who wants to come in and get their free COVID-19 vaccination. To have that capability and not use it would be a public disservice. This is the best way forward that we see toward getting more Kansans vaccinated and thus protected from the COVID-19 virus, so we can all get back to doing the things we love to do.”
Kansans who wish to schedule an appointment can use the Health Department’s self-scheduling tool at WycoVaccines.org, clicking on the blue button that says, “Click here to schedule an appointment online.” To see this page in Spanish, click on the word “Español” at the top of the page.
Wyandotte County residents who don’t have an internet connection can call 3-1-1 (913-573-5311) for assistance in scheduling their vaccination appointment time and date.
When coming in for your appointment, you may be asked to show that you live in Kansas, such as showing a drivers’ license, piece of mail addressed to you, or similar.
Health Department announces early morning, evening hours
In addition to expanded vaccine access for all Kansans, Health Department facilities will have updated hours beginning Monday, April 19. The Health Department is evaluating these new evening and early morning hours for the next three to four weeks.
At that time, the Health Department will reassess and adjust the schedule if needed, according to a spokesman. The latest hours will be available online at WycoVaccines.org or by calling 3-1-1.
Location:
Former Best Buy
10500 Parallel Parkway
Kansas City, Kansas 66109
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday:
9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Closed on Monday, April 24
New: Thursday: 7 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location:
Former Kmart
7836 State Ave.
Kansas City, Kansas 66112
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday:
9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Closed on Monday, April 19
New: Wednesday: noon – 5:30 p.m.
Location:
The Armory
100 S. 20th St.
Kansas City, Kansas 66102
Hours:
Monday – Friday:
9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturdays, April 17th and 24th
9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Vaccinations for people who live or work in Wyandotte County
During regular vaccination facility hours Monday through Friday, people living in Wyandotte County who are 16 years of age and older can get vaccinated without an appointment at any of the Health Department’s three vaccination facilities (these sites usually provide Pfizer vaccines Monday-Friday, which are authorized for ages 16 and up; people 18 and up may receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, depending on the available supply).
All Wyandotte County residents who want a vaccination (whether by appointment or walk-in) are asked to bring proof that they live in Wyandotte County, such as a driver’s license, piece of mail, or similar. People who work in Wyandotte County may be asked to prove that they work in Wyandotte County by showing a work badge, a pay stub, or similar.
People who live or work in Wyandotte County and wish to schedule an appointment can use the online self-scheduling tool at WycoVaccines.org or call 3-1-1. Note that when users book an appointment using the self-scheduling tool, that means they will be vaccinated within the hour of their appointment time. For example, if a user selects “10 a.m.” as their appointment time, they will be vaccinated between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on their selected date.
Saturday clinics in April scheduled
Saturday vaccine clinics will be held at the Armory vaccination facility, 100 S. 20th St. in KCK, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17, and Saturday, April 24. Saturday vaccination clinics are open to anyone living or working in Wyandotte County who is 18 years old and older. Patients at these Saturday vaccine clinics will receive a free, two-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Note – these Saturday hours are at the Armory location only.
Free COVID-19 testing is also available outside of the Armory during the Saturday clinics. Everyone who gets tested can sign up to receive a $25 gift card in the mail (testing patients will not receive their gift card that day, it will be mailed to them after the testing event). You do not have to get tested in order to receive a vaccine, but you are welcome and encouraged to stop by the testing area on your way out after getting vaccinated. Getting more people in the community tested helps public health experts monitor the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Transportation now available on Saturdays
Transportation assistance is now available for those who need a ride to and from their vaccine appointment on Saturdays, as well as the Health Department Monday through Friday hours. To request transportation assistance, visit WycoVaccines.org and click on the gold button that says, “Do you need a
ride to get a COVID-19 vaccine?” or call 3-1-1. To see these options in Spanish, click on the word “Español” at the top of the page.
Monday vaccination hours will be reduced
In order to accommodate the April Saturday vaccinations, the Health Department will be scaling back hours at its vaccination facilities on these upcoming Mondays:
• The Kmart site will be closed on Monday, April 19.
• The Best Buy site will be closed on Monday, April 26.
For updates on vaccination site hours and more information about getting vaccinated in Wyandotte County, visit WycoVaccines.org or call 3-1-1.
Other sites available for vaccinations
The University of Kansas Health System also has vaccinations for Wyandotte and Johnson county residents. Any residents of Kansas can call to get an appointment whether they are patients or not at the health system.
KU Health System offers vaccinations seven days a week at different locations. Appointments are required. Current patients may use MyChart to make an appointment. Others may call 913-588-1227 or visit kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine to see if vaccines are available.
There are also pharmacies giving COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacy at 76th and State Avenue, and 81st and State Avenue (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/), and Medicine Shoppe pharmacy at 65th and Parallel by appointment when available (see https://www.facebook.com/The-Medicine-Shoppe-Kansas-City-281548241870522). CVS pharmacy also has announced that it will offer COVID-19 vaccines at one of its stores in Kansas City, Kansas. Registration is at CVS.com.
Case numbers reported
The University of Kansas Health System reported 12 active COVID-19 patients on Thursday morning, a decrease of one since Wednesday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Of the 12 patients, four were in the intensive care unit, a decrease of one since Wednesday. Two patients were on a ventilator, no change since Wednesday. There were another eight COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized but are out of the acute infection phase, an increase of one from Wednesday. There is a total 20 patients, no change from Wednesday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 17 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, April 15, for a cumulative 18,262 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 290 deaths reported, the same as Wednesday.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 167,664 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Thursday. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 60. The number of cumulative deaths was 2,369.
The state of Kansas reported 305,320 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, April 14, an increase of 601 cases since Monday. There were a total cumulative 4,944 deaths reported statewide.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Thursday night reported 31,495,164 cases in the United States, with 565,283 total deaths reported nationwide.
COVID-19 tests scheduled
COVID-19 testing is available beginning at 8 a.m. Friday at Lowe’s, 6920 State Ave., by appointment. The tests are listed on the Go Get Tested site
at www.gogettested.com/Kansas. The WellHealth tests need appointments, which can be made at the website.
Unified Government Health Department COVID-19 free testing and vaccine sites are scheduled to be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 16. For more information, visit https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19. To see if there is any change to the schedule, visit https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
The Health Department is offering saliva COVID-19 tests to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 16, at the former Kmart at 7836 State Ave., at the Armory, 100 S. 20th, and at the former Best Buy at 10500 Parallel Parkway. Tests from the Health Department are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County.
The tests are open to asymptomatic people as well as those who have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19. Check with the UG Health Department’s Facebook page to see if there have been any changes in the schedule. Bring something that shows that you live or work in Wyandotte County, such as a utility bill.
The Health Department’s general contact page is at https://www.wycokck.org/Health/Contact.aspx. Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
Testing sites are at https://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19.
Saliva testing is now offered at the UG Health Department. For more information, visit https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/02042021-ugphd-saliva-testing-available.pdf.
The University of Kansas doctors’ news conference is online at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/124863236244064.
The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/292961702392386.
A weekly vaccine report for the state of Kansas is at
https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/123/Vaccine-Historical-Document-22521?bidId=.
Wyandotte County has a local mask and social distancing ordinance approved by the UG Commission. The UG COVID-19 webpage is at https://alpha.wycokck.org/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Information.
The KDHE’s COVID-19 webpage is at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/.
The KC Region COVID-19 Hub dashboard is at https://marc2.org/covidhub/.
The Wyandotte County page on the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 website is at https://bao.arcgis.com/covid-19/jhu/county/20209.html.
The Johns Hopkins Data in Motion, a presentation on critical COVID-19 data in the past 24 hours, is at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/covid-19-daily-video.