Governor Laura Kelly clarified and finalized the general coronavirus vaccine schedule during her weekly news briefing Thursday.
Kelly says the new timeline comes after a lot of input from health officials.
Phase One continues now with vaccines going to healthcare workers, critical-level pandemic response workers and long-term care, senior housing or supported independent living facilities.
Phase Two involves people ages 65 or older, congregate settings and high-contact critical workers.
Phase Three is for people ages 16 to 64 with severe medical risks and other critical workers.
Phase Four is for people ages 16 to 64 with other medical concerns.
Phase Five is for the rest of the population, both above and below age 16, depending on health guidance for children as the pandemic continues.
Kelly says the exact timing of moving from phase to phase depends on how many vaccines come in from the federal government. She says vaccine availability will increase over time as more healthcare providers sign up.
After criticism that vaccines are getting out slower than expected — and slower than other states — Kelly says the state is working with the federal government to close the reporting gap. Kansas is now reporting almost 46,000 doses administered, and Kelly is encouraging residents to go online to www.kansasvaccine.gov to track progress.
Kelly also says Kansas has received another 17,500 new vaccines from Pfizer and over 24,000 so-called secondary or booster doses from the initial shipment almost a month ago. Almost 17,000 new doses from Moderna have also come in. Over the next week, Kelly expects 17,500 more initial doses from Pfizer and the same amount from Moderna.
