Category: Health

Local hospital full, doctor says

The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City, Kansas, is now full, and is turning down five or six transfer requests daily from other areas, according to Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer.

Dr. Stites made his remarks Wednesday morning at KU Health System. There was a total of 56 COVID-19 patients in the hospital Wednesday morning, including 31 active patients, he said. The hospital had a peak of 38 active COVID-19 patients a few days ago.

“We are back in trouble again,” Dr. Stites said. The third wave of the pandemic is here, and other hospitals in the Kansas City metropolitan area are experiencing similar situations approaching capacity, he said.

Much of Missouri and a lot of the Kansas City area now are considered high risk areas for COVID-19.

Dr. Stites said people should get vaccinated and follow the rules of infection prevention and control.

“Don’t wait for public health officials to tell you to mask when you’re indoors,” Dr. Stites said. Avoid gathering in large groups, he added.

“This has become a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Dr. Stites said. Most of the COVID-19 patients in the hospital are not vaccinated.

Sixty percent of Missouri residents are unvaccinated as are 57 percent of Kansans.

Ninety percent of those hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated with the rest all having chronic serious medical conditions, according to Dr. Stites.

The hospital is full because it was experiencing a number of other regular procedures, and then has 56 COVID-19 patients in addition.

The panel of guests, who were infectious disease doctors, believe going back to mask mandates is inevitable because of the low vaccination rates and the rapid spread of the Delta variant. They agreed the only way to stop things from getting worse is a change in behavior, both in vaccination uptake and mask wearing.

The infectious disease doctors also discussed comparisons of the HIV-AIDS pandemic with the COVID-19 pandemic.To view their comments, visit https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/415961346331568.

Free vaccines available

Free COVID-19 vaccines will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at the Kmart vaccination site, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Vaccines are free for people ages 12 and older.

Central Middle School, 925 Ivandale, will be the site of free COVID-19 vaccines from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 24. Those 12 and older may be vaccinated, with ages 12 to 17 needing consent from their mother and father. The event is sponsored by El Centro with assistance from Heart to Heart International. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments are accepted. The resource fair will include haircuts for kids, school supplies and information tables.

A community COVID vaccine event will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, at Harmon High School, 2400 Steele Road, Kansas City, Kansas. The vaccines are for those 12 and up. There also will be a backpack giveaway, free food boxes, mobile dental truck, meal tickets for newly vaccinated participants, free ice cream and music. There will be prizes for teens getting the vaccine. There will be an opportunity to enter a drawing for more prizes.

The Unified Government Health Department has announced there will be free COVID-19 vaccinations at a Sporting KC home match at 7:30 p.m. July 31. Vaccines will be available for ticketholders attending the games, who are 12 and older. People who get vaccinated will receive a free Sporting KC scarf.

For more information on the Unified Government Health Department’s vaccine schedule, see WycoVaccines.org.

Mobile vaccines can still be requested online at WycoVaccines.org or by calling 3-1-1 (913-573-5311).

Other sites available for vaccinations

Free vaccinations at KU Health System are open to the public. 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.

There are also pharmacies giving free COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacies, which are now also accepting walk-in vaccinations or appointments, and are starting vaccinations for age 12 and up at those pharmacies that are giving Pfizer vaccine (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/).

CVS has announced walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccine at some of its stores. Those interested in getting a vaccination at a CVS pharmacy are asked to visit a CVS website in order to make sure there is vaccine available. The website is at www.cvs.com/. Walgreens and Walmart also were listed on www.vaccines.gov as giving vaccinations.

Other pharmacies and sites giving vaccines are listed at www.vaccines.gov. The website also tells whether vaccines are in stock at the locations.

Case numbers reported

There were 31 active COVID-19 patients on Wednesday morning at the University of Kansas Health System, a decrease of two from Tuesday, according to Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer. Eleven patients were in the intensive care unit, an increase of two from Tuesday. Six were on ventilators, an increase of one from Tuesday. Another 25 patients were hospitalized because of COVID-19 but were out of the acute infection phase, an increase of three from Tuesday. There were 56 total COVID patients, an increase of one since Tuesday.

Wyandotte County reported a cumulative 19,582 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 26 since Tuesday, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 301 deaths reported, an increase of one since Tuesday.

On Wednesday, July 21, the Unified Government Health Department reported that 38.1 percent of Wyandotte County residents had received at least one dose of vaccine. Those completing their vaccinations totaled about 33 percent.
The percentage of Wyandotte County residents who were age 12 and older who had received at least one dose was 46.9 percent.

The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 181,991 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday in the Kansas City region. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 92.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 325,728 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Wednesday, July 21, an increase of 1,541 since Monday, July 19. There was a total of 5,218 cumulative deaths reported statewide, an increase of 20 since July 19.

The KDHE reported 61,655 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Johnson County on July 21, an increase of 350 since July 19. Leavenworth County had 7,618 cases, an increase of 52 since July 19. Sedgwick County (the Wichita area) reported 58,979 cases, an increase of 201 since July 19.

The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Wednesday night reported 34,226,806 COVID-19 cases in the United States, with 609,862 total deaths reported nationwide. There were 42,703 new cases nationwide.

Countries with new cases rising were United Kingdom, 46,688; U.S., 42,703; India, 42,015; Indonesia, 38,325; and Brazil, 26,403, according to Johns Hopkins information.

Vaccine doses reported administered in the United States Tuesday, 243,940. Forty-nine percent of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated.

Vaccines administered: Texas, 42,529; Michigan, 33,567; Florida, 33,241; New York, 24,418; and California, 18,743.

Global vaccination progress: Colombia, 214.8 million; China, 22.946 million; India, 3.626 million; France 2.421 million; and U.S., 243,900.
Free testing available

Free COVID-19 testing is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 22, at the UG Health Department’s central location, the former Kmart, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Free gift cards are available to those who get a test, while supplies last.

Free testing also is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 22, at the Vibrant Health Argentine location, 1428 S. 32nd St., Kansas City, Kansas.

Besides Health Department sites, free COVID-19 testing is available at several locations in Wyandotte County.

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 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://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19, https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept or call 3-1-1.

The Health Department’s general contact page is at https://www.wycokck.org/Health/Contact.aspx. The department’s 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. There are more test sites listed on this page.

The University of Kansas Health System’s update is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/971472483599576.

The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/330310795391910.

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.

Opioid settlement announced with drug companies

A $26 billion national opioid settlement has been reached with Johnson and Johnson Company and three opioid distributors.

Kansas has reached a settlement with a major pharmaceutical company and three opioid distributors as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to bring accountability to those that fueled the opioid-addiction crisis and provide funds to support addiction services, Attorney General Derek Schmidt said today.


The settlement announced today includes Cardinal Health Inc., McKesson Corporation and AmerisourceBergen Corporation, the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors, as well as pharmaceutical company Johnson and Johnson.

In addition to financial terms, the distributors have also agreed to changes in the pharmaceutical industry to help prevent a similar prescription-drug crisis from happening again. Johnson and Johnson will stop selling opioids, will not fund or provide grants to third-parties for promoting opioids and will not lobby on activities related to opioids.

Schmidt said the terms of the agreement resolve the claims of Kansas and other participating states, as well as local governments nationwide. States will have 30 days to sign onto the deal and local governments in participating states will have up to 150 days to join. The majority of the funding from the agreement is to be spent on opioid treatment and prevention.

“We continue to move forward in our efforts to hold pharmaceutical companies and others accountable for the destruction their business practices caused to the lives of Kansans,” Schmidt said. “These settlement negotiations are extraordinarily complex. However, my objective remains simple: Get as much money as possible into the hands of state and local governments, and service providers, in Kansas to pay for addiction treatment as soon as possible – and of course, change corporate behavior to stop the practices that fueled this damage in the first place.”


The total value of the settlement is approximately $26 billion. Each state’s share of the funding will be determined by agreement among the states using a formula that takes into account the impact of the crisis on the state – the number of overdose deaths, the number of residents with substance use disorder, and the number of opioids prescribed – and the population of the state. The state’s share also will be affected by the number of local jurisdictions that decide to join the settlement.


The conditions of today’s 10-year agreement with the pharmaceutical distributors include:


• Establishing an independent clearinghouse for tracking where drugs are going and how often.
• Maintaining a data-driven system to detect suspicious opioid orders from customer pharmacies.
• Terminating customer pharmacies’ abilities to receive shipments, and report those companies to state regulators, when they show certain signs of drug diversion.
• Prohibiting sales staff from influencing decisions related to identifying suspicious opioid orders.
• Requiring senior corporate officials to engage in regular oversight of anti-diversion efforts.


The agreement is the latest result of ongoing efforts by Schmidt’s office to combat the opioid epidemic. In February, Schmidt joined a coalition of attorneys general from 46 other states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories in reaching a settlement with McKinsey and Company, one of the world’s largest consulting firms. The settlement resolved allegations the company violated the Kansas Consumer Protection Act by helping opioid companies illegally promote their drugs and profit from the opioid epidemic.

Kansas will receive $4.8 million from the McKinsey agreement to be used for drug treatment and addiction abatement.


Schmidt has also reached separate agreements in principle to resolve the state’s claims against Purdue Pharma and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals plc, but each of those companies then filed for bankruptcy and negotiations through bankruptcy court continue.


Kansas also is engaged in ongoing negotiations with other companies the state believes played a role in fueling opioid addiction.


Earlier this year, Kansas legislators approved Schmidt’s proposal to ensure funding recovered through these settlements is used to address addiction and help ensure services are provided throughout the state. Funding will be available through a grant review board created by the statute. State agencies, local governments and not-for-profit entities may seek funding for addiction treatment and abatement through the board, which is currently being formed.

Public health advisory issued for Kansas City metro area

A public health advisory was issued Friday for the Greater Kansas City area about the rapid rise of the delta variant.

The region’s public health departments, including the Wyandotte County Health Department, are issuing the public health advisory in consultation with area hospitals’ chief medical officers, according to a spokesman.

A rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the Greater Kansas City area is related to the emergency of the delta variant, according to the spokesman.

In the advisory, residents are urged to get fully vaccinated.

Also, unvaccinated persons should wear a mask when in indoor public spaces and in crowded outdoor settings, according to the advisory.

In addition, both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents should exercise caution, the advisory stated.

Persons who have any symptoms should stay home when they are sick, according to the advisory.

Those who have underlying medical conditions should get fully vaccinated as soon as possible and wear masks when around persons of unknown vaccination status, according to the advisory.

At this time, unvaccinated residents of all ages who have resumed normal activities without adequate protection are most at risk, particularly immune-compromised individuals, the spokesman said.

The COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to significantly reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death, according to the spokesman.

Recommendations

The region’s public health departments strongly recommend that residents take precautions to protect themselves and others in their community:

  • Get fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
    • Anyone 12 and older should seek vaccination immediately.
    • Help protect children younger than 12 by ensuring the adults around them are vaccinated.
    • Individuals who have initiated 2-dose vaccination should get their second dose to ensure maximum protection against all COVID-19 strains, including delta.
    • Talk with your friends and family about the importance of getting vaccinated.
    • If you have specific concerns about whether you should get the vaccine, consult your physician.
  • Unvaccinated individuals should wear a mask while visiting indoor public places, in crowded outdoor settings, and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
    • Be aware that people with underlying medical conditions may not be able to receive full protection from the vaccine and that children younger than 12 are not yet eligible for vaccination. These populations are vulnerable to being exposed to COVID-19.
  • Both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents should exercise caution.
    • Currently, only 40% of Missourians are fully vaccinated. Please assume that 1 in 2 people in any crowd or gathering may be unvaccinated. If you do not know the vaccination status of those around you, resume social distancing of at least 6 feet.
    • If unvaccinated, being in crowds like restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters puts you at a higher risk for COVID-19. Avoid indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors as much as possible.
    • Additionally, continue practicing good hand hygiene by washing your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds.
  • Stay home if you’re sick.
    • Seek testing if you develop or have any symptoms of COVID-19, including mild symptoms similar to a cold or allergies.
  • Individuals with underlying medical conditions should get fully vaccinated as soon as possible and wear masks when around persons of unknown vaccination status.
    • The following conditions are associated with increased risk of death from COVID-19:
    o Age above 65, organ transplant recipient, cancer, diabetes, obesity, chronic heart/lung/kidney/neurologic conditions, rheumatologic conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, use of immunosuppressive medications, AIDS, and other immunosuppressive conditions or neurological diseases.

• Having more than one of these conditions may significantly increase the risk of hospitalization or death. For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

To find information about vaccination locations and updated guidance, visit https://wycokck.org/covid-19.

Free COVID-19 vaccines available

Free COVID-19 vaccines will be available from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, July 18, at the New Bethel Church anniversary celebration and block party at 745 Walker Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The 73rd anniversary event is open to the community. There will be games and activities, free household items, inspirational messages, a class and sports car show, family food boxes, free COVID-19 saliva tests, a free lunch and an opportunity to receive up to $40 in gift cards. Vibrant Health will assist with vaccines.

For information on the Unified Government Health Department’s vaccine schedule, see WycoVaccines.org.

Mobile vaccines can still be requested online at WycoVaccines.org or by calling 3-1-1 (913-573-5311).

Other sites available for vaccinations

Free vaccinations at KU Health System are open to the public. 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.

There are also pharmacies giving free COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County by appointment, when available. These include Price Chopper and Hen House pharmacies, which are now also accepting walk-in vaccinations or appointments, and are starting vaccinations for age 12 and up at those pharmacies that are giving Pfizer vaccine (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/).

CVS has announced walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccine at some of its stores. Those interested in getting a vaccination at a CVS pharmacy are asked to visit a CVS website in order to make sure there is vaccine available. The website is at www.cvs.com/. Walgreens and Walmart also were listed on www.vaccines.gov as giving vaccinations.

Other pharmacies and sites giving vaccines are listed at www.vaccines.gov. The website also tells whether vaccines are in stock at the locations.

Case numbers reported

There were 32 active COVID-19 patients on Friday morning at the University of Kansas Health System, a decrease of five from Thursday, according to Dr. Nathan Bahr, infectious diseases. The number has declined slightly for the first time in more than a week, but the numbers remain the highest the health system has had since Feb. 19. Twelve patients on Friday were in the intensive care unit, an increase of three from Thursday. Three patients were on ventilators, a decrease of one from Thursday. Ten other patients were hospitalized because of COVID-19 but were out of the acute infection phase, an increase of three from Thursday. There were a total 42 COVID patients, a decrease of two from Thursday.

Wyandotte County reported a cumulative 19,436 cases on Friday, an increase of 21 since Thursday, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 300 deaths reported, the same as Thursday.

On Wednesday, July 14, the Unified Government Health Department reported that 37.42 percent of Wyandotte County residents had received at least one dose of vaccine. Those completing their vaccinations totaled 32.49 percent.
The percentage of Wyandotte County residents who were age 12 and older who had received at least one dose was 46 percent.

The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 177,303 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Thursday in the Kansas City region. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 77.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 323,385 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Friday, July 16, an increase of 1,121 since July 14. There was a total of 5,197 cumulative deaths reported statewide, an increase of one since July 14.
The KDHE reported 61,138 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Johnson County on July 16, an increase of 237 since July 14. Leavenworth County had 7,538 cases, an increase of 41 since July 14. Sedgwick County (the Wichita area) reported 58,654 cases, an increase of 160 since July 14.

The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Friday night reported 34,053,080 COVID-19 cases in the United States, with 608,815 total deaths reported nationwide. There were 28,412 new cases nationwide and 283 new deaths nationwide.
States with high numbers of new cases were Texas, 3,023; Missouri, 2,814; California, 1,794; Louisiana, 1,500; Georgia, 1,362.
Countries with high numbers of new cases were Indonesia, 56,757; Brazil, 52,789; United Kingdom, 48,641; India, 38,949; and U.S., 28,412, according to Johns Hopkins information.

Free testing available

Free COVID-19 testing is available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, July 19, at the UG Health Department’s central location, the former Kmart, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Free gift cards are available to those who get a test, while supplies last.


Besides Health Department sites, free COVID-19 testing is available at several locations in Wyandotte County.

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 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://wyandotte-county-covid-19-hub-unifiedgov.hub.arcgis.com/pages/what-to-do-if-you-think-you-have-covid-19, https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept or call 3-1-1.

The Health Department’s general contact page is at https://www.wycokck.org/Health/Contact.aspx. The department’s 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. There are more test sites listed on this page.

The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/330310795391910.

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.