Now that some COVID-19 third doses and booster shots have been granted emergency use authorization by the federal government, Newman Regional Health has started vaccinating those eligible for those additional medications.
The Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for boosters involving the two-dose Pfizer shots. For boosters, at-risk Americans ages 65 and older are eligible as well as those between 18 and 64 who may have underlying medical conditions or could be exposed to coronavirus at work. Moderna and Pfizer were also approved for third-dose availability for the immunocompromised.
Newman Regional Health is offering vaccines between 12:30 and 4:30 pm Tuesdays and 8 am to noon Thursdays.
Separately, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says it is partnering with Battelle to offer rapid, “self-delivered” COVID-19 tests for all licensed child care providers across the state.
Saliva testing is available for kids as young as age 3, with nasal swab tests available for children as young as age 5. Turnaround times are estimated at no longer than 48 hours. All testing supplies, test shipping and technical assistance are available at no cost to daycare providers, and KDHE says this option is also available to schools, homeless shelters, group homes and detention centers.
More information about this new testing option is available at www.testedandprotected.org.
