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Thursday
March 28th, 2024

ELLY GRIMM • Leader & Times

 

Many announcements are coming out regarding COVID-19, and recently, the State of Kansas made some announcements of updates being made to the vaccination rollout. 

Monday, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announced the state will move to Phase 3 and 4 of Kansas’ COVID-19 vaccination plan starting March 22. With this move, individuals between ages 16 and 64 with a preexisting medical condition and other non-healthcare workers in critical infrastructure will be eligible for vaccination.

“Thanks to an increased supply in vaccine, Kansas will begin vaccinating individuals who qualify in either Phase 3 or Phase 4 on March 22,” Gov. Kelly noted in a release from the State of Kansas. “This expedited timeline will allow Kansans to get back to work, back to school, and back to a more normal way of life. I urge all Kansans to do their part by getting vaccinated when it is their turn and continuing to follow the public health guidance, so we can return back to normal.”

Kansans now eligible to be vaccinated include:

• Those aged 16 through 64 with conditions that increase the risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including cancer, Down Syndrome, certain heart  conditions, Type 1 & 2 diabetes, pregnancy, asthma, cystic fibrosis, liver disease; neurological conditions like dementia, and other medical risks.

• And other non-health care workers in critical infrastructure who cannot work remotely, including agricultural and food workers not included in previous phases, workers performing in-person activities indoors, utility workers, social service and government workers not included in previous phases, logistics workers, such as truck transportation workers and couriers, water and wastewater workers, shelter, housing, and finance workers, and information technology and communication workers.

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This announcement made one week ahead of time, will give counties with vaccination events planned an opportunity to finish vaccinating Kansans in Phases 1 and 2 and will ensure providers have enough time to prepare and notify Kansans who will be eligible in the newly combined Phase 3 and 4, the release noted. Under this expedited timeline, Kansas is expected to move into the final phase of vaccinations by no later than May 1.

Additionally, Gov. Kelly announced the state will activate more providers to complete vaccinations, including safety-net clinics, pharmacies, hospitals, and medical practices. The state, the release continued, will also partner with the federal government to set up mass vaccination sites in Kansas to increase the number of vaccinations possible per day.

“Kansans who need help identifying if they are eligible should contact their local health department. Kansans can also utilize the ‘Find My Vaccine’ mapping tool at KansasVaccine.Gov to locate a provider near them with vaccines available,” the State of Kansas release noted. 

Gov. Kelly, in another State of Kansas release, announced the state has distributed more than 500,000 COVID-19 comfort kits during the pandemic through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. 

“In partnership with Child Care Aware of Kansas (CCAKS), and using funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, over 50,000 comfort kits containing essential items were delivered to child care facilities to ensure the mental health, social development, early learning, and hygienic needs of children across the state were met during the pandemic,” the release noted.  “KDHE and CCAKS delivered three types of kits to child care facilities: hygienic, mental health/social development, and early learning comfort kits. Each kit contained items ranging from hand sanitizer and masks to early learning toys and books.”

“These COVID-19 comfort kits contain essential hygiene supplies needed to help kids stay safe and healthy, books and other educational items to promote early learning and development, and comfort items to protect kids’ mental health and wellbeing during these uncertain times,” Gov. Kelly noted in the release. “I appreciate KDHE and CCAKS for providing our kids with the tools and care they need to be healthy and happy. Also, as a part of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Network project, KDHE contracted with CCAKS to help child care facilities address the challenges of the pandemic many Kansas providers were experiencing, including a shortage of supplies. In partnership with Constructive Playthings, Discount School Supply, Kaplan, and Lakeshore, CCAKS sent 27,035 kits to child care facilities and home visiting programs across the state in October 2020.”

“Because the same means of comfort aren't the same for every individual, we decided to focus on these three types of comfort kits,” Rebecca Clancy, Director of Workforce Supports at CCAKS, noted in the release, said. “We knew that providers were facing a variety of challenges delivering quality care, so we used these kits as a means of helping providers meet the various needs of the children they care for.”

After the success of the first round of comfort kits, the State of Kansas release noted, the KDHE and CCAKS again partnered in December 2020 to deliver an additional 25,760 comfort kits to the 2,576 licensed child care facilities across the state. In total, 52,795 comfort kits were delivered across the state using CARES Act funds.

“These seemingly simple kits with everyday items were wildly popular and greatly appreciated by the children and providers alike,” Rachel Sisson, Bureau of Family Health Director at KDHE, noted in the release. “We were pleased to see the funds go toward items that put a smile on children’s faces during a difficult time.”