Lyon County has paused its COVID-19 vaccinations this week, but it plans to resume those at some point soon.
With interest in vaccinations lagging significantly over the past month, though, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Jennifer Millbern says some changes in approach are coming soon. One option: “pop-up clinics.”
Last week, Lyon County had around 1,500 Moderna doses for the Health Center clinic but only vaccinated about 160 people. Lyon County now has surplus vaccines, so it has asked the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for lower numbers coming to the county. Having said that, Millbern says there are several outlets for people wanting vaccines like Graves Drugs, Haag Pharmacy, CVS, Walmart and Newman Regional Health. Millbern says we’re at a point predicted earlier where vaccine is widely available, and that’s good for area residents.
Another good thing as the vaccination effort continues is approval from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to get high school students as young as age 16 the Pfizer vaccine.
Millbern says between 30 and 50 percent of surveyed area students in have expressed an interest in getting vaccinated. Overall, 38 percent of Lyon County’s eligible population age 18-plus has been fully vaccinated.
Millbern will be back on KVOE’s Newsmaker segment at 7:15 am April 29.
