Laura Ovington took her 81-year-old mother to get her COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday and said the scene at Okun Fieldhouse in Shawnee was “a complete zoo”.
Tuesday was the first day that the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment offered vaccines to individuals in Phase 2 of the county’s vaccine distribution plan.
The county announced this week that Phase 2 vaccinations would begin with people aged 80 and over.
‘They should be better prepared’
But Ovington said that what she and her mother experienced Tuesday morning suggested that the county was not fully prepared.
She said they waited outside in freezing weather for about 20 minutes, in the freezing country parking lot, along with other people, most of them elderly. Ovington said some people were there with walkers and canes or in wheelchairs.
“It was freezing,” said Ovington. “No one, no volunteer, was helping people.”
As soon as they finally entered the country house, 20200 Johnson Drive, she said the building was almost empty, with volunteers talking to each other.
“There was no reason why people were waiting outside,” she said.
Ultimately, she said her mother received her first dose of vaccine, saying that the paramedic who administered the injection was “incredible”.
But she said she expects the county to apply its procedures after Tuesday. More seniors will come on Wednesday to be vaccinated as part of Phase 2 and are expected to stay below zero again.
“They need a lot more help and volunteers. They knew it was going to get cold. They should be better prepared, ”said Ovington.
Courtney Craig, a resident of Roeland Park, also sent an email to Johnson County commissioners, saying she was concerned about her 93-year-old friend, who is due to be vaccinated on Wednesday.
“When we are 80+ and we leave them in the parking lot, without accommodation for people with low mobility, what does that mean,” Craig wrote in his email.
“I understand that we are in strange times and with planning uncertainty, but we are really doing our best when our most vulnerable to this virus and these weather conditions are being forced to wait in the cold,” said Craig. “Do it better.”
Commissioners’ reply
Commissioner Shirley Allenbrand responded to Craig’s email, saying “the team has been notified”.
“Special thanks for informing us,” wrote Allenbrand.
Commissioner Becky Fast responded to Craig and said she went to the test site to see Craig’s concerns in person. Fast agreed that “Johnson County should do better” and said he had a meeting scheduled today with the director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, Sanmi Areola.
“I found it moving this morning to see elderly people in wheelchairs, walkers and walking sticks on the cold sidewalk and then having to walk a long distance to the building and stand out in the cold,” said Fast. “You can be sure that I will be a strong voice for improvement.”
The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday morning.
This story will be updated with JCDHE comments when we receive them.