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Many Johnson counties wishing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 now have a way to notify county health officials.
The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment on Friday launched an online survey that allows people in Phase 2 of the county’s vaccine rollout plan to let the county know that they would like to receive the vaccine at two doses when they are eligible.
Phase 2 of the vaccine deployment plan will include:
- adults 65 and over
- Critical ‘high-contact’ workers, including police, firefighters, teachers, and grocery workers (click here for full list)
- unvaccinated health workers during phase 1
Phase 1 is still ongoing and is expected to run until January. Below is the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s five-phase vaccination plan, which the JCDHE follows.
The survey will not take an appointment
County health director Sanmi Areola, Ph.D., told the county commission on Thursday that vaccinations for the phase 2 group could begin as early as next month.
He said the online survey is aimed at helping county officials know the extent of the need for what is expected to be a large group of phase 2 vaccinees. But the survey will not allow people to make an appointment. you to get vaccinated.
Areola has estimated that there could be up to 150,000 Johnson counties who qualify for Phase 2 vaccines.
The new survey system in Johnson County mirrors similar online registration systems already in use in Wyandotte and Jackson counties. These counties also ask residents to fill out information – including name, address and age – to see when they can become eligible for the vaccine.
Johnson County health officials said the county will contact those who sign up to give them more information once they are eligible.
Phase 1 vaccinations collected this week
There is still a long way to go before Phase 2 vaccinations can begin, but the outlook has become slightly more optimistic this week with an increase in the number of doses received by the county.
By Monday, only 4,000 doses had been administered to phase 1 recipients, including health workers and others critical to the pandemic response. (Workers and residents of Johnson County long-term care facilities are also vaccinated, but as part of a federal pharmaceutical partnership that is not included in the county’s overall tally, Areola said.)
But by Thursday this week, the county had received 7,350 more doses and expects 3,900 more soon. Of this number, approximately 5,000 are intended for the booster to be administered to people who have already received the first dose.
Vaccinations for phase 2 cannot begin until the end of phase 1, Areola told Commissioners. There are about 10,000 injections left to give for this to happen.
Where to find more information
The county health department is encouraging phase 1 health workers to continue signing up for their vaccines now that more vaccines are available.
Doses for residents eligible for Phase 1 will be available by appointment Tuesday through Friday for the next two weeks for those who present proof of employment, medical certificate and valid ID. These meetings are not accessible to the general public.
The county has distributed the doses as they arrive and does not stockpile a vaccine, Areola said, even to reserve doses for reminders.
County health officials are urging residents to frequently check the JCDHE’s vaccine information page for updates. They are also encouraging residents to sign up for the county’s daily COVID-19 newsletter, keeping residents informed of the latest news, data and trends related to the pandemic in Johnson County.
In the meantime, Areola urged residents to continue wearing masks, social distancing and staying at home when sick, to curb the spread of the disease.
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