The Unified Government Health Department is sponsoring a #IHelpedConquerCOVID Poster Contest for students in kindergarten through 12th grade in Wyandotte County districts.
The deadline for entering the contest has been extended to April 30, according to a UG Health Department spokesman.
“We know how disruptive the COVID-19 pandemic has been to students, families, teachers and our school districts,” said Juliann Van Liew, director of the Unified Government Health Department. “This poster contest is a way for students to participate in the COVID response and get creative in helping us spread the word about how important the vaccines are for returning to the activities we love.”
School districts whose students are eligible for the contest include: • The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas • Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools (USD 500) • Bonner Springs-Edwardsville schools (USD 204) • Piper School District (USD 203) • Turner Public School District (USD 202)
How to enter the contest
Poster contest entries can be created in any art medium and must relate to the theme #IHelpedConquerCOVID! Entries must be original artwork created in pencil, pen, crayon, marker, paint or other similar mediums. Computer-generated artwork (including clipart) is prohibited. Computer-generated text is acceptable.
The deadline for entries has now been extended to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 30. All entries should be submitted to the school district’s chosen representative. For more details, students and their families can ask the office at their school or their district office. All students, grades K-12 in any of the school districts listed above, are eligible to compete in the contest. Prizes will be awarded to each district’s first, second and third place winners.
Each district’s first place winner will advance to final round judging. From this pool of first place winners, the judging panel will select three grand prize winners – one each from grades K-5, 6-8 and 9- 12.
The elementary school grand prize winner will receive a $500 prize. The middle and high school grand prize winners will receive $1,000 prizes. In addition, the winning students’ primary teacher will receive a $1,000 gift card to be used for classroom activities. Contest winners will be announced in May.
For more information on COVID-19 and vaccinations in Wyandotte county, visit WycoVaccines.org or call 3-1-1.
COVID-19 vaccinations in Wyandotte County are still lagging behind state and national vaccination rates.
According to information released on Wednesday by the Unified Government Health Department on its vaccine webpage, about 25.6 percent of Wyandotte County residents, or 42,403 people, have received one dose of vaccine. About 17.3 percent, or 28,625, are fully vaccinated, the UG figures stated.
That’s less than the state of Kansas, which recorded 37 percent of residents had received at least one dose of vaccine, according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment statistics. There were 1,078,489 people in Kansas who had received one dose, according to the KDHE. Over 685,000 people have received two doses.
The CDC reported that 40.5 percent of Americans, more than 134 million, have received at least one dose, and 26.4 percent are fully vaccinated. Among those older than 18, there have been 51.5 percent who have received at least one dose. Eighty percent of those age 65 in the United States have received at least one dose, while 65 percent are fully vaccinated, according to CDC.
Some subgroups in Wyandotte County are doing much better at getting vaccinated than others. Dennis Dumovich, director of human resources at the Board of Public Utilities, reported at Wednesday night’s BPU board meeting that the BPU employees are almost 67 percent vaccinated, or about two-thirds of employees. BPU board member Rose Mulvany Henry said that she hopes the vaccination numbers continue to increase and improve.
Vaccine hesitancy has been an obstacle in some underserved communities, according to doctors at the University of Kansas Health System news conference on Wednesday.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the health system, said he thinks there could be a change in vaccine hesitancy when the FDA gives full approval to the vaccines, as they now have emergency use approval.
At that time, many workplaces may require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, just as they do with the flu shot, he said. He thinks that may happen around the fall.
KU Health Services has given almost 72,000 vaccinations, with 12,000 currently available, Dr. Stites said. He invited patients to register on MyChart and others to visit at kansashealthsystem.com/vaccine or call 913-588-1227 to make an appointment for a vaccination.
The guest at the Wednesday KU Health System news conference was Dr. Gary Morsch, one of the founders of Heart to Heart International. He has started COVID Care Force to mobilize a group of volunteers to travel to areas in need of assistance because of COVID-19.
He described their efforts with the Navajo Nation, which was facing one of the highest death rates in the country, and how the situation was turned around with masking, stay-home orders and then vaccinations. The Navajo members respected their leaders and their community, and they were doing these measures for the greater good and for the community, he said. Now, they have stopped COVID-19 on their reservation, he said.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control at the health system, said COVID-19 numbers in the Kansas City area are creeping up and he is concerned about the trend. According to Dr. Hawkinson, there are more cases of young people getting multi-system inflammatory syndrome.
Dr. Hawkinson said although many young people have less severe infections, they can still spread the virus and get significant disease. Vaccinations will be the way out of the pandemic, and he said people who are unsure should seek information they need to make an informed decision.
Walk-in vaccinations available Thursday
Free walk-in vaccinations are available Thursday, April 22, for Wyandotte County residents and workers.Walk-in vaccinations available Thursday
Early morning hours are available Thursday. Wyandotte County residents and those who work in Wyandotte County may walk in for a COVID-19 vaccination from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at the former Best Buy store at 10500 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.
Also open for walk-in vaccinations from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, will be the former Kmart at 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.
Vaccinations also will be given from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 S. 20th St., (near 18th and Ridge), Kansas City, Kansas.
The vaccination sites will have either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
Appointments also are being scheduled for the Unified Government Health Department vaccine sites.
The Health Department has expanded vaccine access and starting this week, all Kansas residents can make an appointment to be vaccinated at any of the Health Department’s vaccination facilities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The vaccination sites on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are open to Kansas residents who are 16 and older who have appointments. They also are open to Wyandotte County residents who can walk in for a vaccine without an appointment.
Kansas residents who wish to schedule an appointment or any Wyandotte County resident 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.
Wyandotte County residents 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. Walk-ins also are possible for Wyandotte County residents.
People coming in for an appointment may be asked to show they live in Kansas, such as showing a driver’s license, a piece of mail addressed to them, or similar paperwork.
The Health Department also is adding late afternoon and early morning hours this week, and will have these special days for the next three or four weeks.
Early morning hours will be available at the former Best Buy vaccination site from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Later afternoon hours will be from noon to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the former Kmart location.
The Armory will continue with Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 24.
To see more information about Health Department vaccinations, visit WycoVaccines.org.
Other sites available for vaccinations
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.
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.
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 COVID-19 cases have dropped slightly since Tuesday. There were 10 active COVID-19 patients on Wednesday morning, a decrease of three since Tuesday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Of the 10 patients, six were in the intensive care unit, a decrease of one from Tuesday. Three patients were on a ventilator, the same number as Tuesday. There were another 10 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized but are out of the acute infection phase, an increase of two from Tuesday. There is a total 20 patients, a decrease of one since Tuesday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 14 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, April 21, for a cumulative 18,327 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 289 deaths reported, no change.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 168,860 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 69. The number of cumulative deaths was 2,373.
The state of Kansas reported 306,883 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, April 21, an increase of 593 cases since Monday. There were a total cumulative 4,961 deaths reported statewide. According to KDHE, Johnson County had 57,317 cases, an increase of 181 since Monday; Leavenworth County, 7,145 cases, an increase of four; Sedgwick County (Wichita area), 55,659, an increase of 126; and Shawnee County (Topeka area), 17,275 cases, an increase of 32.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Wednesday night reported 31,862,080 cumulative cases in the United States, with 569,401 total deaths reported nationwide.
Case numbers reported
Free COVID-19 testing is available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Vibrant Health, Argentine location, 1428 S. 32nd St., Kansas City, Kansas. The tests are in conjunction with the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force. Appointments are not needed.
COVID-19 testing is scheduled beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 22, at Lowe’s, 6920 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The tests are through WellHealth and appointments are required to www.gogettested.com/kansas.
Tests from the Health Department are free for those who live or work in Wyandotte County. They are saliva tests.
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.
Sixty-two Kansas counties rejected their weekly allocations of COVID-19 vaccines from the state this week even though only roughly 34% of Kansans have received at least one shot.
by Abigail Censky, Kansas News Service
Even as Kansas remains far from reaching the coveted public health standard of herd immunity against COVID-19 — essentially starving off the virus because it runs out of vulnerable bodies — more than 60 counties just turned down their weekly allotment of vaccine doses.
Not long ago, local health officials struggled to get enough doses for people clamoring for protection in a pandemic. Now they’re straining to get people willing to take their shots — and sorting out how to make the most of doses given out to smaller groups.
Consider Barton County in central Kansas. It’s named for Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. So far, it’s given at least one dose of the vaccine to about 30% of its adults compared to 36.4% across the state.
A decline in demand
“Herd immunity is great and 80% sounds wonderful,” said Karen Winkelman, a nurse and the Barton County health director. “But I don’t think we would ever reach that.”
She’d be happy if half the adults in Barton County got vaccinated. Herd immunity typically requires that more than three-fourths of a population get protected against a virus.
If counties like Barton plateau in that 30 to 50% range, experts typically worry that the community remains vulnerable to sickness, to overwhelmed hospitals and to avoidable deaths.
“That’s a problem,” said Dennis Kriesel, the executive director of the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments. “Everyone would agree 30% is not going to do it.”
Settling for lower immunization rates, he said, invites more waves in the deadly pandemic.
“It would mean that we would still have a great likelihood that COVID is going to stay present in the community,” Kriesel said.
The 50% of a county that’s vaccinated will experience more freedom to socialize without masks or to eat at indoor restaurants.
“But on the flip side, with so many people that are unvaccinated, if (COVID-19) stays and takes root and continues to spread, that’s what develops the variants, because these things are mutating,” Kriesel said. “They’re always mutating.”
Barton County isn’t alone. This week, 62 counties declined their weekly allocations of vaccines from the state.
On weekly calls with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Winkelman said, “there has been talk of that very thing. … ‘Do you feel like you’ve saturated your community?’ ‘Maybe.’”
Cheyenne, Decatur, Lane, Phillips, Sheridan, and Woodson counties have skipped their allocations for the past four weeks. Their immunization rates range from roughly 26% to 32%.
Demand for vaccinations is stagnating. A spokesperson for Gov. Laura Kelly said that Kansans may feel less threatened by the pandemic after a steady drop in infections, hospitalizations and deaths.
“There seems to be a lack of urgency with some individuals waiting to get a vaccine when it is most convenient,” the governor’s office said in an email.
Counties can also receive vaccines through federal programs like the Retail Pharmacy Program and the Federal Dialysis Program, and from federal agencies like the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Kriesel said counties could be skipping their allocations for other reasons: vaccine hesitancy and a part of the population that’s indifferent to the vaccine.
“It’s not a question of safety. … It’s a, ‘Yeah, but if I get COVID, I might have a sniffle,’ sort of thing,” he said. “So, I don’t know if I count those as vaccine-hesitant. People are more just disinterested.”
Changing strategy
Kriesel said there are plans underway to target younger high school-aged populations, which make up a large number of new cases in the state.
“I’m hoping that will get us a decent way further along on that path,” he said. “If that gets us the 30 to 50(%), that’s great, but is still not enough.”
Meanwhile, the state is creating a public health campaign to target people who are indifferent or reluctant to get vaccinated.
The minimum Moderna shipment comes with 10 vials. Once a vial is punctured it must be used within 12 hours. The minimum Pfizer shipment is 195 vials. They last just six hours after the seal is broken.
“Even if you’re doing a good job — and I’m sure Kansas is — of spreading the vials across providers, the providers themselves are hesitant unless they have actually the right number of people lined up for that day to puncture that vial,” said Claire Hannan, the executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers.“The packaging is meant for high volume and we just don’t have that high volume in rural areas,” she said.
Hannan said rural areas may need to shift from mass vaccination sites to private providers who are trusted in the community, and retail pharmacies that may have closer relationships with local patients.
That’s the direction Barton County has moved toward. The county accepted 500 doses this week. Now it’s offering walk-ins at the health department for the first time since January, and it’s sharing some of the county’s allotment with the three area hospitals.
But Winkelman, the nurse and county health director, said she won’t twist people’s arms to get vaccinated.
“I would like to see the number higher,” she said, “but I can also respect people’s decisions.”
Abigail Censky reports on politics for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @AbigailCensky or email her at abigailcensky (at) kcur (dot) org. The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their connection to public policy. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished by news media at no cost with proper attribution and a link toksnewsservice.org. See more athttps://www.kcur.org/news/2021-04-21/half-of-kansas-counties-turn-down-covid-vaccines-even-though-theyre-far-from-herd-immunity.
