Governor Laura Kelly has laid out the state’s tentative plans for COVID-19 vaccination efforts for once the doses arrive in the state.
According to the governor during her weekly press briefing Wednesday the state of Kansas is currently scheduled to receive 24,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine — which may receive emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as soon as Dec. 10– by the middle of this month. Additional doses of the Moderna vaccine — expected to be approved for emergency use authorization by Dec. 14 — are anticipated to arrive shortly after with weekly shipments of both vaccines to continue thereafter.
Kelly anticipates the state will receive 150,000 doses by the end of December.
The governor stated that once the vaccines arrive distribution will take place through a three-phased system.
The governor did stress this plan is still tentative with the timeline highly dependant on the arrival of doses. Governor Kelly says the vaccine will be free, however, vaccination providers are permitted to charge an administrative fee for the shot if they so chose.
Kelly says no individuals will be turned away from receiving a vaccination if they cannot afford to pay a fee.
The governor closed her statements Wednesday by addressing hesitancy towards vaccinations expressed by many Kansans in recent months. The governor explained there is a wide amount of data that details and supports the vaccine’s efficiency and safety.
Current plans are to have “as many phase one individuals” as possible vaccinated by the end of the month with phase two and three vaccinations to take place on a rolling basis between the winter and spring.
Governor Kelly will be providing a weekly update on the plan’s progress during her regular press briefings. The governor’s next news conference is scheduled for 4 pm Wednesday and will be viewable on the governor’s Facebook page.
