TOPEKA—Kansas Governor Laura Kelly held a press briefing Wednesday afternoon before she receives the first of two COVID-19 vaccine shots.
Some top Republican officials have passed on getting the vaccine for now because all health care workers and nursing home residents haven’t received theirs.
Kelly designated herself and 10 other state officials as eligible to start vaccinations this week in an effort to protect state government’s “continuity of operations.”
Four eligible legislative leaders and GOP Attorney General Derek Schmidt say they will wait. Most of those Republicans say they don't want to jump in line ahead of health care workers, nursing home residents and other vulnerable Kansans.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 6,371 to a total of 222,433 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.
Coronavirus deaths were reported at 2,741 an increase of 193.
Click here for additional numbers from the KDHE.
