By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has released data on the number of staff members who are vaccinated in nursing homes across the state.
Good Samaritan in Hays ranked the highest in Ellis County with a vaccination rate of 65.2 percent as of Tuesday. KDHE reported Ascension Via Christi Village had a staff vaccination rate of 55.6 percent.
Good Samaritan in Ellis had a 45.5 percent staff vaccination rate.
Some surrounding counties' nursing facilities had even lower staff vaccination rates. Red Bud Village in Plainville had a 38.1 percent staff vaccination rate. Russell Regional Hospital in Russell had a 34.3 percent staff vaccination rate, and Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton had a 28.1 percent staff vaccination rate.
The state's goal is a 90 percent staff vaccination rate across all long-term care facilities in the state, according to a press release issued Friday by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services.
Only a handful of facilities in the state have reached that benchmark. The state vaccination rate for nursing home staff is 58.1 percent per facility.
Kansas is behind the national nursing home staff vaccination rate, which is 61.1 percent.
However, long-term care residents have one of the highest vaccination rates in the state at 86.7 percent, according to KDADS.
You can see an interactive map of the state by clicking here. The dashboard will be updated weekly on Fridays.
Area nursing home staff vaccination rates
Ellis County
Good Samaritan, Hays — 65.2 percent
Ascension Via Christi Village, Hays — 55.6 percent
Good Samaritan, Ellis — 45.5 percent
Rooks County
Red Bud Village, Plainville — 38.1 percent
Solomon Valley Manor, Stockton — 28.1 percent
Russell County
Russell Regional Hospital, Russell — 34.3 percent
Trego County
Trego Lemke, WaKeeney — 51.7 percent
Rush County
Locust Grove Village, LaCrosse — 65.2 percent