The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will now be available to age 12 and older in Kansas, according to an announcement Wednesday afternoon by Gov. Laura Kelly.
The governor said that because of increasing evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for young people, the vaccine now will be available to them in Kansas.
“Health experts’ thorough, deliberate review process demonstrates that safety continues to be the number one priority in vaccine approval – and my administration is confident that opening the vaccine to young Kansans is the right move,” Gov. Kelly said. “I encourage all eligible Kansans to roll up their sleeves and do their part to ensure we can continue getting back to work, back to school, and back to normal.”
Wednesday’s announcement followed the Monday expansion of the emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration and Wednesday’s vote of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and approval by the CDC director.
“This is an incredible step forward in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE secretary, said. “We are now able to protect our younger populations against this deadly disease.”
Kansas providers can now begin opening their vaccine supply to ages 12 and up. Those under 18 do need written parental consent for vaccination.
To find a vaccine provider near you, visit www.Vaccines.gov or text your zip code to 438829 (GETVAX) or in Spanish, text your zip code to 822862 (VACUNA).
The original EUA was issued on Dec. 11, 2020, by the FDA for administration in individuals ages 16 and older.
After the announcement Wednesday, some vaccine sites started vaccinating 12 to 16-year-olds.
At the University of Kansas Health System’s news conference Wednesday morning, Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, said households with children are at higher risk for getting COVID-19, and it’s important to get kids vaccinated now that vaccinations have been approved for ages 12 and up.
He said KU Health System is gearing up to add vaccines for ages 12 and up, and added there will be plenty of vaccine for children and adults.
Dr. Hawkinson said COVID-19 is a vaccine-preventable disease, as many other childhood diseases, and he urged parents to make sure their kids get shots for all the vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccinating children will be the best way to start getting families back to normal, especially for school this fall, Dr. Steve Lauer, pediatrician, said. Vaccinations may allow families who are fully vaccinated to travel this summer.
Dr. Mike Lewis, pediatrician, said kids who get COVID-19 are more at risk for multi system inflammatory syndrome. In this syndrome, the immune system goes into overdrive fighting the virus, causing fevers and multiple organs to be impacted. It’s even worse for kids with chronic conditions. He calls it ”really sad,” that not only at the health system but across the country, doctors are seeing more critically ill children who have not had the opportunity during the pandemic to see their doctor and now problems which could have been caught sooner are very serious.
He said that kids, like adults, have had a lot of things taken away in this past year and if they don’t have the skills to work through some of their frustrations, they can really go downward with their mental health. He said they don’t always recognize when things are going in the wrong direction and urges parents to be their kids’ advocates and help them get back on track when needed.
Free vaccinations available Thursday
Free walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations will be available for everyone over age 16 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at the former Kmart, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, and at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 S. 20th (18th and Ridge), Kansas City, Kansas.
The former Best Buy, 10500 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, will be closed on Thursday.
The schedule of vaccinations is changing this week. The Health Department was planning to add vaccinations for those 12 and up soon. To see the new schedule and more information about vaccinations, visit WycoVaccines.org or https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
The Health Department will be doing more mobile vaccinations, and people may request vaccines to be given at different sites in the community by going to WycoVaccines.org and clicking on “mobile vaccine request.” People also may request a ride to vaccination sites on the same page.
UG Health Department vaccinations are now open to people from other counties and states. People may walk in for vaccinations or can schedule them.
Those who wish to schedule an appointment may use the Health Department’s self-scheduling tool at WycoVaccines.org and click on a blue button that says, “Click here to schedule an appointment online.” The page is available in Spanish by clicking at the top of the page. Walk-in appointments also are welcome.
Those who don’t have an internet connection may call 3-1-1 or 913-573-5311 for assistance in scheduling their vaccination appointment time and date.
To see more information about Health Department vaccinations and next week’s schedule, visit WycoVaccines.org.
Other sites available for vaccination
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.
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 accepting walk-in vaccinations, and are starting vaccinations for age 12 and up at those pharmacies that are giving Pfizer vaccine (see https://www.ballsfoodspharmacy.com/). Medicine Shoppe pharmacy at 65th and Parallel (see https://www.facebook.com/The-Medicine-Shoppe-Kansas-City-281548241870522).
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.
Case numbers reported
KU Health System reported a slight decrease in the number of patients on Wednesday. There were 23 patients with the active virus being treated, a decrease of two since Tuesday. Eleven of the patients were in the intensive care unit, an increase of two since Tuesday. Three patients were on ventilators, a decrease of one from Tuesday. There were 11 COVID-19 patients who were out of the acute infection phase, a decrease of two from Tuesday. There were a total of 34 patients, a decrease of four since Tuesday. The age range of patients in the ICU was 23 to 75, and those recovering on the regular medical unit were ages 36 to 83. There were two COVID-19 patients on the pediatric floor, ages 10 and 17.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of seven COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, May 12, for a cumulative 18,606 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 292 deaths reported, no change. On May 12, the Health Department reported that 30.45 percent of Wyandotte County residents, or 50,368, had received at least one vaccine dose. Those who completed their vaccinations were 25 percent, or 41,377.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 172,405 cumulative COVID-19 cases.. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 57.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 311,338 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Wednesday, May 12, an increase of 411 cases since Monday, May 10. There were a total cumulative 5,029 deaths reported statewide, an increase of 13.
KDHE reported that Johnson County had 58,401 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 98 since Monday. Leavenworth County had 7,230 cases on Wednesday, an increase of two since Monday. Sedgwick County (the Wichita area) had 56,676 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 88 since Monday
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Wednesday night reported 32,814,943 cumulative COVID-19 cases in the United States, with 582,848 total deaths reported nationwide. There were 33,651 new cases nationwide and 684 new deaths nationwide.
States with the highest number of new cases were Florida, 3,263; Texas, 2,824; Michigan, 2,668; Pennsylvania, 2,233; and Illinois, 1,544.
Countries with the highest number of new cases were India, 348,421; Brazil, 72,715; U.S., 33,651; Argentina, 25,976; and France, 19,791, according to Johns Hopkins information.
Free testing available Thursday
Free COVID-19 testing will be available from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 S. 20th, Kansas City, Kansas, and the former Kmart at 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. For information about UG Health Department COVID-19 testing sites and hours, 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. Appointments are not needed.
One of the WellHealth sites for free COVID-19 testing is open beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 13, at Lowe’s at 6920 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. Appointments are required. For more information, to see other testing sites and to make an appointment, visit https://www.gogettested.com/kansas.
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. There are more test sites listed on this page.
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 at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/2856385294628333.
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=.
Information about the new mask ordinance passed April 29, which loosened restrictions in Wyandotte County, is online at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/updatedwycomaskorder04302021.pdf. The new mask order is online at https://alpha.wycokck.org/files/assets/public/health/documents/covid/amend-lho-may-6-2021.pdf.
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.