Staff and Wire Reports
photo by: Associated Press
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly discusses the COVID-19 pandemic during a Statehouse news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
TOPEKA Kansas anticipates getting at least $1.1 billion from the latest federal coronavirus relief package and expects to spend about half of it on K-12 schools, higher education and grants for child care, state data shows.
About $168 million is earmarked for testing, tracing and mitigation and another $26 million is planned for vaccine distribution, according to data provided by J.G. Scott, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department. How the money is spent is dictated by federal law.
Lawrence’s hospital will begin administering 1,300 vaccines Tuesday to residents 65 and older.
Monday night, the county contacted 1,300 randomly selected residents via the county’s alert system. These individuals had indicated interest in receiving the vaccine through the county’s vaccine interest survey. The selected residents received instructions about how to sign up online or by phone for one of the appointments.
Amy Northrop, spokesperson for LMH Health, said the county did not contact more than 1,300 residents. As the Journal-World has reported, previous Phase 2 vaccination sign-ups felt competitive to some residents, because the sign-ups went out to more residents then there were doses available.
Pioneer Ridge Health and Rehab resident Janet Rusk receives a COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 29, 2020.
Staff members and residents at Pioneer Ridge Health & Rehab were given the option to receive a COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, according to the skilled nursing facility.
Walgreens administered the Pfizer vaccine at Pioneer Ridge Health & Rehab, 4851 Harvard Road, to staff and residents of the facility’s skilled nursing and rapid recovery units, a news release from the organization said.
“We feel so fortunate to be offering the vaccine to our residents and staff,” Ann Bell, Pioneer Ridge Health & Rehab administrator, said in the release. “We cannot thank Walgreens and the CDC enough for prioritizing our community and senior living communities across the country.”
photo by: Contributed Photo/Heartland Community Health Center
From left, Dr. Cooper Nickel, a primary care provider at Heartland Community Health Center, and his father, Dr. Graig Nickel, a family physician at Watkins Student Health Center at the University of Kansas, receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, at Heartland.
Story updated at 2:52 p.m. Tuesday:
Heartland Community Health Center received its anticipated 1,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at 9 a.m. Tuesday and began vaccinating Tier 1 health care workers slightly before 11 a.m., according to the health center’s leader.
Robyn Coventon, CEO of Heartland, said vaccine distribution was taking place at the health center, 346 Maine St., Suite 150. Those getting the vaccine will enter the building, as opposed to a drive-thru option. Coventon said a dedicated observation area was available inside for individuals post-vaccination.
photo by: Ashley Golledge
LMH Health has set up a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination center at the northwest corner of its campus. The drive-thru center is pictured on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.
Though LMH Health hasn’t received Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine yet, the Lawrence hospital is anticipating that it will be able to vaccinate between 200 and 300 people a day at its new drive-thru vaccination center.
Christina Crowley, director of pharmacy at LMH Health, spoke to the Journal-World Tuesday morning at the site of the new drive-thru on the northwest corner of the hospital’s campus. Crowley said that the date and time of vaccine arrival at LMH Health is still unknown, but that she was told to expect a call with more information either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday.