For the first time since COVID-19 vaccines became available, Douglas County has seen its supply outpace demand from community members.
Ahead of its regularly scheduled Wednesday clinic at the Douglas County fairgrounds for first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Unified Command staff on Tuesday afternoon said they anticipate having some 1,900 available vaccine appointments — even after sending appointment prompts to county residents in the fifth and final phase of Kansas’ vaccine distribution plan.
“We’re seeing a lower acceptance rate lately, likely as people are able to get vaccines from pharmacies and other providers, which is good news,” Director of Informatics Sonia Jordan said in a statement. “Data from the state has shown Douglas County has vaccinated at the highest rate in the state right now, and we ask anyone who has not yet had their turn to make an appointment so we can continue at our high rate of vaccinations.”
When Gov. Laura Kelly announced on March 22 that all Kansans ages 16 and above would be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning a week later, Douglas County initially announced that it would continue prioritizing those in the Phase 3/4 combination of the state plan through the week of April 15, as there were still roughly 11,000 eligible residents who hadn’t received a dose of the vaccine.
As vaccine supply has increased both in Kansas and across the United States in recent weeks, though, that number has dropped precipitously to a few hundred people, Douglas County said.
Any Douglas County resident 16 and older who would like to make a vaccine appointment can enter the code 284987 at LDCHealth.org/GetMyVaccine to make an appointment for Wednesday’s clinic. Appointment registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis until all slots are full. Appointments are available from 11:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m., the county said Tuesday.
Selection for the vaccine each week will still begin with those who filled out the Douglas County Vaccine Interest Form, so anyone interested in receiving the vaccine in future weeks should complete the form, the county said.
Anyone who completed the form earlier but has received the vaccine elsewhere can remove their name from the list.
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