The Wyandotte County vaccination rate, for those residents who have had at least one COVID-19 shot, rose to about 36.7 percent, according to figures reported Wednesday by the Unified Government Health Department.
The percent of residents who were fully vaccinated was 27.1 percent, according to the figures from the UG COVID-19 vacine webpage. The rate is 40 percent among those age 12 and up, who are eligible to get a vaccination.
The figures are lagging, compared with the state vaccination rates and some other county rates.
The state of Kansas reported 41.6 percent of its residents had received at least one dose, with about 35 percent fully vaccinated, according to figures on the Kansas Department of Health and Environment website.
Douglas County had a vaccination rate of 49 percent and Johnson County had a 44.8 percent vaccination rate, for one dose, according to figures from KDHE’s vaccination website. Leavenworth County was 31.3 percent for one dose, according to the KDHE information.
At the University of Kansas Health System news conference on Wednesday morning, Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention and control, stated that about 50 percent of Americans have had at least one vaccination. So far, about a billion doses of vaccine have been given in the world.
Dr. Hawkinson said there were no documented deaths from the vaccine, while there were 600,000 deaths in the United States from COVID-19.
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer for KU Health System, is bothered by lawmakers who have tried to pass laws that vaccines will not be required. Once the vaccines are fully authorized by the FDA, it is likely that some businesses such as hospitals, will require employees to get vaccines, he believes.
“I don’t think legislatures should be trying to dictate medical standard care and medical practice,” Dr. Stites said. “I think that belongs strictly in the hands of those of us who do health care on a regular basis. And I don’t think that legislature should substitute medical judgment in that setting.”
Dr. Stites believes vaccination is the way to end the pandemic and resume normal life.
Also discussed at the news conference was a patient and her experiences with anxiety during the pandemic.
Free walk-in vaccinations available Thursday
Free walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations will be available for everyone 12 and older from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27, at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 100 S. 20th (near 18th and Ridge), Kansas City, Kansas, and at the former Kmart store, 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. People may also schedule vaccinations at WycoVaccines.org.
The vaccination site at the former Best Buy store was permanently closed on Wednesday, May 26.
The Unified Government Health Department schedule of vaccinations changed recently. To see the schedule and more information about vaccinations, visit WycoVaccines.org or https://www.facebook.com/UGHealthDept.
Those who receive vaccinations are asked to consider bringing an ID to make the process go faster.
The Health Department is 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 vaccinations
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.
Case numbers reported
The number of active COVID-19 patients increased Wednesday at the University of Kansas Health System, according to Dr. Hawkinson. There were seven active COVID-19 patients, an increase of four. Only one had symptoms. One of the patients was in the intensive care unit, an increase of one. The patient in the ICU had not been vaccinated. Ten other patients were hospitalized because of COVID-19 but were not in the acute infection phase, a decrease of three from Tuesday. The total of 17 patients is up one from Tuesday.
Wyandotte County reported an increase of six COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, May 26, for a cumulative 18,721 cases, according to the Unified Government Health Department’s COVID-19 webpage. There was a cumulative total of 293 deaths reported, no change from Tuesday.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 174,118 cumulative COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 49 cases since Tuesday. The daily average of new hospitalizations was 50.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 313,720 cumulative COVID-19 cases in Kansas on Wednesday, May 26, an increase of 446 cases since Wednesday, May 24. There were a total cumulative 5,067 deaths reported statewide, an increase of nine.
Johnson County had a cumulative 59,095 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 53 since Monday, according to the KDHE. Leavenworth County had a cumulative 7,252 cases on Wednesday, an increase of six since Monday. Sedgwick County had a cumulative 57,226 cases on Wednesday, an increase of 99 since Monday.
The Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 dashboard on Wednesday night reported 33,190,161 cumulative COVID-19 cases in the United States, with 591,947 total deaths reported nationwide. There were 22,756 new cases nationwide and 621 new deaths nationwide.
Free testing available Thursday
Free COVID-19 testing will be available from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 27, at the Vibrant Health – Argentine location, 1428 S. 32nd, Kansas City, Kansas. Testing is in conjunction with the Wyandotte Health Equity Task Force. Appointments are not needed.
Free COVID-19 testing also will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m Thursday, May 27, at the former Kmart store at 7836 State Ave., and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Kansas National Guard Armory, 200 S. 20th St., (near 18th and Ridge), Kansas City, Kansas. Appointments are not needed.
The former Best Buy store site was permanently closed on Wednesday.
For more 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 27, 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. 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.
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 KU doctors’ news conference is online at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/3768382639938678.
The University of Kansas Health System COVID-19 update page is at https://www.facebook.com/kuhospital/videos/330310795391910.
A vaccine report for the state of Kansas is at
https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/123/Vaccine-Historical-Document-22521?bidId=.
Information about the 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 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.
446 new cases in one week for Kansas – a few hours drive west/southwest of here I see no social distancing or masks being used at all. Even heard one convenience store pizza cook with the congestion cough, maybe not covid-19 related but could be. Time will tell and yes, I still wore a mask along with hand sanitizer use.