Flint Hills Community Health Center’s on-demand vaccination option has gotten off to a slow start according to Health Center CEO Renee Hively.
Hively says day one of the on-demand vaccinations Monday only saw five individuals take advantage of the opportunity. As of 10 am Tuesday morning, Hively reports there were only eight individuals signed up to receive vaccines.
The on-demand option allows patients who already have an appointment the option of receiving a vaccine during that time. Hively says residents do not need to be a regular patient and can also walk in and request a vaccination any time.
This option comes as the demand for vaccines has steadily decreased in recent weeks. Hively is hopeful the on-demand option and planned pop-up clinics will see that trend reverse.
Hively adds the on-demand option is much easier on their staff and convenient for patients, however, it is difficult for the Health Center to fully “control the waste of vaccine.” To avoid an abundance of vaccine waste Hively says the Health Center is creating a list of homebound patients that they will reach out to if there is leftover vaccine at the end of each day. She says Health Center staff will then travel to those individuals’ homes to administer a vaccination if the resident wishes to receive one.
For more information call the Health Center at 620-342-4864 or contact Public Health by calling the Public Health COVID-19 Hotline at 620-208-3741 or by going online to www.publichealthlyoncounty.org.
