Kansas’ COVID-19 vaccination plan is accelerating soon.
In a special news conference Monday, Governor Laura Kelly announced plans to go from Phase 2 to Phase 3 and Phase 4 of the vaccination effort starting March 22. This will benefit an estimated 600,000 residents in the following categories:
Phase 3
*Residents ages 16-64 with severe medical risks (including cancer, Down syndrome, certain heart conditions, Type 1 and 2 diabetes, pregnancy, asthma, cystic fibrosis, liver disease, neurological conditions like dementia)
*Critical workers (including agricultural and food workers not included in previous phases, workers performing in-person activities indoors, utility workers, social service and government workers not included in previous phases, logistics workers like truck transportation workers and couriers, water and wastewater workers, information technology workers, communication workers)
*Residents from previous phases not yet vaccinated
Phase 4
*Residents ages 16-64 with other medical risks
*Residents from previous phases not yet vaccinated
This reflects an expectation Kansas will get a lot more vaccine doses and vaccinators in the next few weeks. The move also lets counties prepare for the new phases and wrap up their Phase 2 work.
Just last week, Lyon County Public Health Incident Commander Renee Hively had mentioned concerns about having to pause vaccinations with the county’s response nearing the end of Phase 2. Now she’s expecting a seamless transition to the upcoming phases.
