By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays Mayor Sandy Jacobs received her first of two Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations during Wednesday's clinic coordinated by the Ellis County Health Department and First Care Clinic of Hays.
Jacobs, and her husband Danny, are both over the age of 65, and both have had mild cases of coronavirus. They are eligible to receive the vaccine in the state's Phase 2 rollout plan targeting people 65 older.
The mayor was impressed with the clinic's efficiency as people stood in line at Big Creek Crossing - six feet apart - to get their shot.
Most of the staffing comes from the health department, First Care Clinic and HaysMed, who are working alongside student nurses from Fort Hays State University and NCK Technical College, and Ellis County EMS.
Employees of the Ellis County Sheriff's Department steer wheelchairs to help those who need it to get inside the storefront from their vehicles. They also make sure patients have their identification and then point them to the start of the line.
Other positions are filled by volunteers from the community.
Local businesses have donated the wheelchairs, internet access and a water cooler.
"It's a well-oiled machine," Jacobs said of the process headquartered in the former Gordmans storefront. "They are doing a wonderful job."
It took "just 5 or 6 minutes" from sign-in to getting the vaccine in her left arm by nurse Mary Ann Shorman, Jacobs noted.
Those who have been inoculated then must be seated in a monitored waiting area for 15 minutes so Ellis County EMS employees can be sure the person has not had an adverse reaction to the newly developed vaccine.
Jacobs was given a reminder card to return for her second shot in 24 or 28 days.
This was the third week the clinic has operated.
No one is being charged for the vaccines, according to Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy.
"We put this community coalition together to get vaccines out the door as fast as possible," he said. "This vaccine is so valuable and important in our community moving forward."
"Once we receive vaccines, people are scheduled, they come here. It's about 20 to 25 minutes for the entire process. They're in. They're out. And we're able to get a large part of the community vaccinated in a short amount of town."
The vaccines come from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to the state of Kansas, to Ellis County, so far in lots of just 400 or 500 at a time.
Kennedy wants more vaccines - lots more - but he has no control over the acquisition.
He got an email from the state saying another 400 doses will arrive next week.
"I don't get to change that number. I can't make it bigger."
The vaccinations have been given on Wednesdays, approximately 24 hours after they arrive in Hays. If, and when allocations increase, Kennedy says the clinic hours will expand.
Frontline healthcare workers, first responders, and long-term care residents and staff received the COVID-19 vaccine during Phase 1.
Some vaccines are now being sent by the CDC to private pharmacies in Kansas, including the Hays Walmart. Those federal programs are separate from the local clinic, with a different sign up process and potential costs.
"We encourage you to go get the vaccine wherever you can, as soon as you can," Kennedy said.
People can put their names on the Ellis County clinic list now, even as they await Phases 3 and 4.
You can sign up online on the Ellis County website at https://www.ellisco.net/704/COVID-19-Information or call the health department at 785-628-9440 for assistance. First Care Clinic is also taking names by calling 785-621-4990. The Hays Public Library is offering its internet service for signing up to people without internet access.
Kennedy was named the Ellis County Health Officer in January 2020. COVID-19 spread to Kansas just three months later.
Kennedy had to hit the ground running. The pandemic was unexpected, but actually part of his job description, he says.
"This is historically one of the primary functions of the health department to deal with situations like this. It's been on-job-training for having to work with a constantly moving environment. I'm glad I've been able to be an advocate for the community and be there to help the community through this."
Although some people refuse to be vaccinated or wear masks, Kennedy says the "community has been very supportive of the health department" and describes the community COVID coalition as "phenomenal."
Jacobs has stayed focused on information from the local medical community, including KU Medical Center, about the vaccine's efficacy.
She's encouraging all Ellis County residents to sign-up for the vaccine, even as a face mask mandate remains in place for the city of Hays.
"We still want people to wear a mask, to wash their hands, really avoid big gatherings, and to social distance," Jacobs stressed.
"If we can get everybody in Hays and Ellis County vaccinated, our community opens up that much quicker."
The Ellis County Health Department in Wednesday's case update reported the average number of new coronavirus cases per day in the last seven days remained flat at eight. Twenty-six new cases were identified.