So far, about 30,000 Johnson County residents have been vaccinated — who’s next?

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To date, an estimated 30,000 Johnson counties have been vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine for the first time.

Currently, the county is preparing to extend Phase 2 distribution to other priority groups, including adults aged 65 and over, starting next week.

The total number of vaccinated people is an estimate based on data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

This figure includes vaccines given by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, as well as vaccines given in nursing homes and nursing homes through partnerships with the region’s major healthcare systems and federal pharmacies.

County health officials also say that 5,000 to 10,000 residents have been vaccinated for the second time.

People over 65 and first responders

The vaccinations given by the county this week focused on individuals over the age of 80.It’s a difficult process sometimes, and some seniors Stand outside below freezing The first day of distribution on Tuesday.

County Health Director Sanmi Areola, Ph.D. Is Virtual press conference on Facebook On Thursday, most of those people are currently vaccinated, but he admitted that some may still need to be dosed.

Starting next week, the county will begin distributing vaccines to other people prioritized in Phase 2 of Vaccine Deployment Phase 2 in Johnson County, Kansas, along with two major health systems (Advent Health and Olathe Medical Center). It was.

This means that not only people over the age of 65, but also first responders, including members of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and local fire departments, can start vaccination.

People who are not current patients at Advent Health or Olathe Medical Center can be vaccinated through JCDHE, but as more vaccines become available, other healthcare systems will participate in local distribution activities.

The areola said the county continues to struggle to get enough vaccine to meet demand.

“This is a very large group and we are doing our best to prioritize everyone in that group,” Areola said. “As the dose increases, we will put the vaccine in people’s arms as soon as possible.”

Special education teachers, Deaf school staff

Epidemiology mayor Elizabeth Holtzsch said next week with special education teachers in kindergarten to high school districts and private and parochial schools. Kansas Deaf School In Olathe.

According to Holtzsch, educators in this group are generally in close contact with students who may not be able to distance themselves and wear masks at all times during school, increasing their risk. Get COVID-19.

Immunizing this group of educators eliminates the need for students receiving special education services or attending Deaf schools to be quarantined or quarantined less often.

“These students were usually quarantined many times during previous pandemics, which means they had to go home for days, couldn’t go to school, and couldn’t get these services. “Holzschuh said. Said.

Administration of these vaccines is coordinated, primarily at the school district level, with the help of Children’s Mercy Hospital, which helps the county distribute vaccines at schools.

If the supply of vaccines is slowly flowing from the state through the federal government at current rates, it could still take weeks for other educators to be vaccinated, Holtzshu said.

Take the second dose

According to Areola, those who receive the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine through JCDHE or other community health partners can receive a second dose when the deadline expires.

This includes individuals who have been vaccinated at Okungfield House this week.

“We have your second dose, we are not using your second dose for your first dose,” Areola guaranteed residents during a virtual press conference. ..

He said JCDHE would contact people about the second dose about a week before it was scheduled to submit information about booking reservations.

The areola said it should be planned for a second dose at the same location as the first dose.