will the rate of vaccinations increase soon?

Every Friday, the Shawnee Mission Post publishes a vaccine FAQ in Johnson County, answering our readers’ questions about the COVID-19 vaccination process in Johnson County.

If you have a question about vaccines that you would like to answer, send an email to [email protected].

You can read our previous frequently asked questions about county vaccine interest research, state and county priority lists, and the fairness of vaccine distribution.

This week’s FAQ focuses on questions from readers who want to know more about the pace of vaccination and vaccine delivery.

Will the pace of vaccinations increase soon?

• It is quite possible, as county health officials hope to start receiving more doses in their weekly quota that arrives in the state.
• The Biden government says it is increasing vaccine production this week, and the president has promised that there will be enough doses to vaccinate all American adults by the end of May.
• This week, for the first time, Johnson County received more than 10,000 doses in a single week. This was due, in part, to an infusion of more than 3,000 doses of the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• Sanmi Areola, Ph.D., county health director, told county commissioners on Thursday that he was “optimistic” that Johnson County would start receiving even more weekly doses than that in the coming weeks.
• Anticipating the need to accommodate more vaccine administrations, the county is now renting a Lenexa deposit that will serve as the county’s vaccination center going forward. Areola said the goal is to make up to 2,500 vaccines a day in the shed.

Does getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine change anything about the vaccine distribution in Johnson County?

• The short answer is not yet.
• This week, Johnson County received about 3,300 single-dose vaccines from the state’s Johnson & Johnson, but distribution of that vaccine will not occur regularly after the current supply runs out.
• Dr. Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said this week that Kansas does not expect to receive more vaccines from Johnson & Johnson until at least March 23.
• Still, county health officials welcomed the extra boost from the vaccine this week.
• “We don’t have enough vaccines to meet the needs of everyone who wants to, so we are happy to get what we can and administer it as soon as possible,” said county director of epidemiology, Elizabeth Holzschuh. .

What will happen if other Kansas counties finish Phase 2 before Johnson County?

• According to Areola, some smaller, more rural counties in Kansas are nearing the end of the state’s Phase 2 distribution, which focuses on people aged 65 and over, educators, first responders and essential workers such as grocery workers.
• Johnson County is currently only about a third of the way through the Phase 2 groups.
• Norman says that counties cannot move to the next stage before each of Kansas’ 105 counties is capable. As counties with smaller populations begin to close their Phase 2 clinics, they will receive smaller shipments of vaccines and supplies will be redirected to larger counties, such as Johnson.
• Overall, Johnson County, which represents only 21% of the population of Kansas, but has received only about 14% of the state’s overall vaccine supply, which has frustrated local officials and residents.
• “What we would like to see is that our portion of the vaccine reflects our numbers,” Areola said.

How is the county dealing with people who lie on their vaccine registration form or are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, but still show up?

• If you are not eligible to be vaccinated, but still make an appointment through the county’s online system, Areola says that you will not be vaccinated when you show up at the county clinic.
• He said some people lied about their eligibility on the online form or mistakenly signed up for a vaccine appointment after someone else sent them a registration link.
• Areola said that having to refuse someone at the time of vaccination, because they are trying to skip the queue, wastes time and resources from the municipality. It can also take the place of someone who – for reasons of age or work – has a more urgent need to be vaccinated.
• “It is very destructive,” he said.

As a reminder, here is who is eligible to be vaccinated at Level 1 of Phase 2 of the county vaccine launch:

• People aged 65 and over
• Primary and secondary school staff and childcare providers
• Any remaining health professionals who have not been vaccinated as part of the Phase
• Rescuers, including police and firefighters

Who will be vaccinated next?

• The JCDHE hopes to start vaccinating other groups at Phase 2 Level 1 soon. Areola says vaccinations for grocery workers could begin in the coming weeks.
• People aged 64 or under and with pre-existing diseases will be prioritized for vaccination as part of Phases 3 and 4.
• Eventually, everyone who wants the vaccine will be able to get it, so “please respect the order and the stages we are in,” said Holzschuh.

Again, if you have a question that can be answered in a future Johnson County vaccine FAQ, send us an email at [email protected].