WICHITA, Canada (KWCH) – Sedgwick County leaders announced that all members of Phase 2 of the state’s vaccine deployment plan can now schedule appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Sedgwick County.
The county said it will get a steady supply of vaccines and has opened a second mega-vaccination clinic through Saturday (March 13) at Central Community Church in West Maple.
In addition to residents over the age of 65, those who meet the requirements to receive a vaccine in phase 2 of the deployment plan include essential and close-contact workers in various industries.
Sedgwick County had already offered COVID-19 vaccines to some Phase 2 groups, including aviation workers, public safety, meat packing and transportation. Now, clergy, higher education, postal work, meeting centers, and retail can get the shot. It also includes another large group of workers.
“Employees of grocery stores and food services. So we know it’s going to be a very big category and they’re people in work environments with high contact, so we’re excited to be able to offer them vaccines, ”said Tim Kaufman, deputy director of Sedgwick County.
Passage through Sedgwick County comes as Kansas puts more focus on vaccinating the state’s population centers in Sedgwick and Johnson counties to pass Phase 2. More vaccinators and National Guard assistance they allow to increase the vaccination capacity. Sedgwick County will operate two mass vaccination sites in addition to the main site of the former Wichita Central Library.
The vaccine is available for the rest of this week at Central Community Church and next week at the Sedgwick County Extension Office (K-State Research and Extension – Sedgwick County).
“It now provides us with a capacity closer to the 4,000 shots a day instead of the 2,200 and 2,300 we got at the library,” said Tom Stolz, Sedgwick County manager.
The county is studying some mobile clinics, but leaders say their main message to Phase 2 employers is to direct their employees to mass vaccination sites in the county.
“Efficiency is at these maximum vaccination sites, so we would ask our business partners to let their employees come down and get a vaccine,” Stolz said.
The hope is that progress will allow phase 3 to begin sooner. This includes people with underlying health conditions who do not fit into phase 2 with their job or age.
Sedgwick County Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccine clinics are open Monday through Saturday.
| Location | Category |
|---|---|
| Old Library 223 S. Main, Wichita |
Critical workers and residents over the age of 65 who are mobile |
| Central Community Church 6100 W Maple, Wichita, KS |
Dose 1 Critical workers and residents over the age of 65 who have mobility |
| Drive-Thru Clinic, Wichita Traffic Operations Center 777 E. Waterman, Wichita |
Residents over the age of 65 who are no Phone |
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