A panel of doctors, including Dr. Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is scheduled to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine in an online program April 21.
The program, “And Here We Are Now: The COVID-19 Vaccine,” is part of a series of library programs about the history of pandemics in the United States. It is in partnership with the public libraries in Atchison, Basehor, Bonner Springs, Lansing, Leavenworth, Linwood and Tonganoxie, and the Northeast Kansas Library System.
The panel will be moderated by Ken Miller, public information officer for the city of Lansing.
Also on the panel will be Dr. Sabato Sisillo, pulmonologist and medical director at Providence Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas; and Dr. Prashanth Katrapati, cardiologist and medical director at Saint John Hospital, Leavenworth.
The panel will discuss the latest information on the vaccine rollout in Kansas and medical concerns with the virus and the vaccine.
The program will begin at 7 p.m. April 21 on Zoom and on Facebook Live. To register for the meeting, visit .https://tinyurl.com/2kt7hdfp.
The Unified Government Health Department has announced it will add hours on every Saturday in April at its east vaccination facility at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 18th and Ridge.
Saturday hours will be 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 10, April 17 and April 24. The Saturday vaccinations are open to people age 18 and older who live in Wyandotte County.
Patients being vaccinated on Saturdays will receive the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. This vaccine is approved only for those 18 and older. Wyandotte County residents wishing to be vaccination can either walk in to receive their vaccination or make an appointment.
“Throughout the vaccine rollout, we have been working to make vaccines more accessible for our County,” said Juliann Van Liew, director of the Unified Government Public Health Department. “We’ve heard from many of our partner agencies and community members that people needed the option of weekend vaccination hours. Now we’re able to provide those throughout April. Wyandotte County residents can walk in or make an appointment, whichever they prefer. If they need transportation assistance, we can provide that as well. We want everyone living in Wyandotte County to have the opportunity to get the vaccination at a time and a location that works for them, and we hope this helps make that possible.”
Some vaccination hours reduced
In order to accommodate the new Saturday vaccination hours, the Health Department will need to reduce hours on Mondays temporarily. For April: • The Armory vaccination (100 S. 20th St.) site will be closed on Monday, April 12. • The former Kmart site (7836 State Ave) will be closed on Monday, April 19. • The former Best Buy site (10500 Parallel Parkway) will be closed on Monday, April 26.
How to schedule a vaccine appointment online
Go to WycoVaccines.org, and click on the blue button that says, “Click here to schedule an appointment online.”
Fill out pertinent contact information.
Select a preferred vaccination site. A calendar will then be displayed with available dates.
Select a date to see available appointment times, then click the time you would like to schedule.
Once the vaccination appointment is scheduled, the application shows a confirmation, along with any additional instructions.
When coming in for your appointment, you will be asked to show proof of that you live in Wyandotte County, such as a piece of mail addressed to you, drivers’ license, or similar.
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.
How to schedule a vaccine appointment by phone
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, or for assistance in requesting a ride to and from vaccine sites. While walk-in patients are welcomed at any of the sites, walk-in patients will not be accepted after 2:30 p.m. All Wyandotte County residents who want a vaccination (whether by appointment or walk-in) must bring proof of residence with them, such as a piece of mail, drivers’ license, or similar.
Request a ride to and from a vaccination site
People who live in Wyandotte County can request transportation assistance to get their COVID-19 vaccination. They can submit a request online at WycoVaccines.org or by calling 3-1-1.
Tips for getting your vaccine
When it’s time for you to get your COVID-19 vaccine, keep these tips in mind: • Please eat something (even a snack) before getting your vaccination. • Be prepared to wait in the Recovery area for 15-30 minutes after your vaccination • Wear a short-sleeved or sleeveless shirt so you can be vaccinated more easily (if it’s chilly out, wear a sweater or jacket over your short-sleeved shirt).
Volunteer opportunities
The Health Department is seeking additional volunteers to help with COVID-19 vaccine efforts. Volunteers are needed in both clinical and non-clinical roles. People interested in joining the volunteer team are invited to fill out the Volunteer Application: ughealth.info/volunteer.
Others offering vaccinations
The University of Kansas Health System also is offering vaccinations for Wyandotte and Johnson county residents. Any resident of Kansas can call to get an appointment whether they are a patient or not at the health system. There are about 8,000 open appointments.
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.
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.
COVID-19 case numbers reported
The University of Kansas Health System reported eight active COVID-19 patients on Wednesday morning, an increase of one from Tuesday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Of the eight patients, three were in the intensive care unit, no change from Tuesday. One patient was on a ventilator, the same as Tuesday. There were another 14 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized but are out of the acute infection phase, a decrease of one since Tuesday. There is a total 22 patients, no change since Tuesday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 15 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, April 7, for a cumulative 18,155 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 287 deaths reported, no change from Tuesday. According to the Wyandotte County vaccine page, there were 21.5 percent of the county’s residents who had at least one COVID-19 vaccination, and 11.6 percent who completed their vaccinations. There was a total of 35,567 Wyandotte County residents with at least one vaccination shot, and 19,146 residents who had completed their vaccinations.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 164,810 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 201. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 66. The number of cumulative deaths was 2,341.
The state of Kansas reported 303,767 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, April 7, an increase of 540 cases since Monday. There were a total cumulative 4,932 deaths reported statewide, an increase of five.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Wednesday night reported 30,921,976 cases in the United States, with 559,109 total deaths reported nationwide.
COVID-19 tests scheduled
Free COVID-19 tests will be available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 8, at Vibrant Health, Argentine location, 1428 S. 32nd, Kansas City, Kansas. The tests are in partnership with the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force. Nasopharyngeal swab-PCR tests will be provided by Vibrant Health.
COVID-19 testing is available at 8 a.m. Thursday 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.
The Health Department is offering saliva COVID-19 tests to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 8, at the former Kmart at 7836 State Ave. 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.
A billboard is part of the Two Million Arms KC campaign in Greater Kansas City. The graphic design is by Willoughby, a brand design firm.
Some communities are losing their local mask orders, and there are virus variants being discovered in the region. But stepping in at the right time is the Two Million Arms KC campaign in Greater Kansas City.
The campaign’s goal, as stated, is to get the COVID-19 vaccine to 2 million people in the Greater Kansas City area, ideally before people get sick or before variants start escalating here.
It’s an ambitious goal, as it is about 80 percent of the Greater Kansas City area’s population, estimated at 2.5 million. The campaign recently launched through Comeback KC.
Mark Logan, communications director for Comeback KC, said the 2 million vaccines include kids, and they’re assuming at some point the vaccine will be approved for children.
Part of the communications campaign will include advertising encouraging people to get vaccines, he said. The campaign also includes support for small vaccination events, which could become very important to closing the last mile and getting the most vulnerable communities vaccinated, he said.
They’re also applying funds to conduct almost political-style door-to-door canvassing to help people in vulnerable communities address any misperceptions, and get them signed up to get the vaccine, Logan said.
Currently, Kansas is vaccinating people through health departments, pharmacies, federally qualified health centers and hospital systems, he said. Eventually, some medical offices may be added.
“We would urge them to get it at the first available opportunity, not to wait to get it from their doctor,” Logan said, as time is of the essence..
The program offers a website, VaccinateKC.com, to list events and places offering the vaccines, he said. There are a lot of pharmacies in the Kansas City area participating, and for some people that is the easiest path.
“The vaccine is free and you don’t have to have health insurance to get it,” Logan said. Anybody can go to a participating pharmacy or their Health Department, make an appointment and get the vaccine whether they have insurance or not. The Two Million Arms KC website refers Wyandotte County residents to the Unified Government Health Department’s vaccine webpage.
There are expected to be some challenges along the way to getting 2 million vaccinations. They will need enough vaccine to meet the 2 million doses goal, he added.
And unfortunately, the vaccine process has now been politicized, with a large anti-vaccination crowd, and there is misinformation and disinformation out there, he said.
“We’ve got an uphill battle to fight,” he added.
The campaign probably will go on for at least a year, he said, and how quickly they can reach the goal depends in part on when the vaccine is approved for children.
Logan said initial funding for the campaign came from Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Kansas City, and they are seeking additional funding now. The campaign will be conducted in large part through partners in the region including health departments, vaccinators and community organizations that are working to get people vaccinated, according to Logan.
One of the designs for the Two Million Arms KC campaign. The designs are by Willoughby, a brand design firm.
Residents can expect to see billboards, social media, print and broadcast advertising, according to the campaign. Also, there will be posters and fliers available for employers, community centers, places of worship, and retailers. The graphic designs for the campaign were developed by Willoughby, a brand design firm.
“As my office and the City continue our work to ensure equitable vaccine distribution, I am proud of this effort to simplify and amplify the COVID-19 vaccine process for Kansas Citians throughout our region,” Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a news release. “As more folks become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, and more resources become available to receive it, the Two Million Arms KC Campaign will be working to inform and connect folks to these events and encourage them to receive their vaccines. We will continue to work on quickly and equitably connecting folks with a vaccine, so we can finally bring an end to this pandemic and begin our recovery process.”
“Given the early impact of COVID-19 in Wyandotte County, and our community’s historically diverse population, we’ve initiated extensive education and outreach campaigns regarding safety protocols, testing, and vaccinations throughout the various stages of the pandemic,” Mayor-CEO David Alvey of the Unified Government said in the news release. “The Two Million Arms KC efforts complements the vaccination efforts we’ve undertaken to educate and protect our residents and our entire community, and we’re proud to partner with Comeback KC, other local governments, and various entities to promote a broader regional campaign surrounding the importance of vaccinations for everyone.”
“Vaccination is safe and effective,” according to Dr. Erin Corriveau, deputy health officer for Wyandotte County, “The faster we all get vaccinated, the faster we can move forward into a healthier, better future, together.”
Two Million Arms KC has been endorsed by the Mid-America Regional Council; BioKansas; the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City; the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce; Health Forward Foundation; El Centro; Kansas City, Missouri; Johnson County; Clay County; Platte County; and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County.
“We may live in two states, many counties, and lots of different cities, but we’re all one region and we have one goal: get everyone vaccinated so we can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Logan said. “We also want to make sure that we proactively and meaningfully address the equity issues that have been raised by the pandemic and even by the vaccination response to date.”
“We look forward to working with the Two Million Arms KC Campaign to ensure our vaccination process is easy and accessible for all, especially for our underrepresented Black and Brown communities,” said Dr. Vernon Howard, president of Southern Christian Leadership Conference Kansas City. “Continued community collaboration and outreach is key to helping our friends, families, and neighbors reach immunity from COVID-19, and this campaign is the first step of many.”
“People of color were overrepresented with severe impacts of the virus,” according to Irene Caudillo, president and CEO of El Centro. “This campaign will provide messages in Spanish for us to use in our Latino community. The campaign will be useful for trusted community-based organizations to utilize in our effort to make sure there is equitable distribution of the vaccine in communities that were most impacted.”
“Getting vaccinated not only protects you and the people around you,” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, “It’s also necessary to restore the health of our businesses and our regional economy. It’s the road to recovery and a return to normalcy.”
The Two Million Arms website, www.VaccinateKC.com, includes information in both English and Spanish about how residents can get a vaccine. The campaign also includes a vaccination van, which is available to KC region vaccinators to help close the “last mile” of vaccination efforts. The vaccination van will be used for small, community vaccination events and even to deliver vaccines to homebound individuals.
The nonprofit home of Comeback KC is KC Digital Drive (www.kcdigitaldrive.org), a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
One of the designs for the Two Million Arms KC campaign. The designs are by Willoughby, a brand design firm.
Walk-in and by appointment vaccinations offered; Saturday hours added
Free vaccinations will be available between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, at the three Unified Government Health Department vaccination sites in Wyandotte County.
They are accepting walk-in vaccinations from Wyandotte County residents over age 16. Residents also may schedule appointments.
The UG Health Department will hold Saturday vaccination clinics from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on April 10, April 17 and April 24 at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 18th and Ridge. Johnson and Johnson vaccinations, only one dose, will be given on the Saturdays.
Wyandotte County residents who are 18 and older can schedule an appointment to reserve a spot on Saturday, or they can walk in without an appointment. Everyone should bring proof of their address.
Starting Monday, April 12, the Health Department is changing its Monday schedule in order to offer the Saturday hours. One site will be closed each Monday, but the other two will be open 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays. The closures include the Armory, closed April 12; the former Kmart location, closed April 19; and the former Best Buy, closed April 26.
All three vaccination sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
The Unified Government Health Department has launched a new self-scheduling tool for COVID-19 vaccinations, and people are now able to schedule their own vaccinations at their own convenience online.
Residents 16 and older may either walk in to get a free vaccine or may schedule an appointment. There are three Unified Government Health Department vaccination clinics.
The vaccination sites are at the former Kmart store at 7836 State Ave., the former Best Buy store at 10500 Parallel Parkway and the Kansas National Guard Armory at 100 S. 20th (near 18th and Ridge).
Those Wyandotte County residents in Phases 1 to 4 also may walk in to a Health Department vaccination site, or may sign up for a vaccination at WycoVaccines.org or call 3-1-1.
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.
COVID-19 case numbers reported
The University of Kansas Health System reported seven active COVID-19 patients on Tuesday morning, no change from Monday, according to Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control. Of the seven patients, three were in the intensive care unit, no change from Monday. One patient was on a ventilator, a decrease of one since Monday. There were another 15 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized but are out of the acute infection phase, an increase of two since Monday. There is a total 22 patients, an increase of two.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of 16 COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, April 6, for a cumulative 18,140 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 287 deaths reported, no change from Monday.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 164,609 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, an increase of 134. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 62. The number of cumulative deaths was 2,340.
The state of Kansas reported 303,227 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Monday, April 5, an increase of 354 cases since Friday. There were a total cumulative 4,927 deaths reported statewide, a decrease of five.. According to the KDHE, a decrease in deaths was attributed to a review of death certificates. Some deaths initially reported as COVID-19 related were identified during the review process as not having COVID-19 as the ain cause or contributing cause of death. According to KDHE figures, there were a cumulative 56,398 cases in Johnson County, with an increase of 99 cases between Friday and Monday. There were a cumulative 54,913 cases in Sedgwick County on Monday, an increase of 52 cases between Friday and Monday. The KDHE reported a total 7,076 cases in Leavenworth County on Monday, an increase of seven cases between Friday and Monday. There were 16,993 cumulative cases in Shawnee County, the Topeka area, on Monday, an increase of 26 between Friday and Monday.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Tuesday night reported 30,845,703 cases in the United States, with 556,506 total deaths reported nationwide. There 79,075 new cases and 607 new deaths nationwide. Johns Hopkins’ Daily COVID-19 Data in Motion, https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/covid-19-daily-video.
COVID-19 tests scheduled
Free COVID-19 tests will be available from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, at Faith Deliverance Family Worship Center, 3043 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. The tests are in partnership with the Wyandotte County Health Equity Task Force. Nasopharyngeal swab-PCR tests will be provided by Vibrant Health.
COVID-19 testing is available at 8 a.m. Wednesday 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.
The Health Department is offering saliva COVID-19 tests to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, at the former Kmart at 7836 State Ave. 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.
