photo of: Ashley Golledge
A sign points to LMH Health’s new COVID-19 vaccination center on Tuesday, December 15, 2020.
Lawrence Hospital will begin administering 1,300 vaccines on Tuesday to residents age 65 and older.
On Monday night, the county contacted 1,300 randomly selected residents through the county alert system. These individuals had expressed interest in receiving the vaccine through the county’s vaccine interest survey. Selected residents received instructions on how to register online or by phone for one of the appointments.
Amy Northrop, a spokeswoman for LMH Health, said the county did not contact more than 1,300 residents. As reported by the Journal-World, pre-phase 2 vaccination registrations felt competitive for some residents, because registrations were sent to more residents, then doses were available.
The hospital access clinic is added to the health department clinic for residents age 65 and older, scheduled for Jan. 29 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The 960 appointments at this clinic were reportedly filled in about 30 minutes after the slots were arranged.
LMH Health’s drive-thru clinic, which will begin Tuesday at 1 p.m., will run until all vaccines are distributed. Russ Johnson, president and CEO of LMH Health, said the hospital was ready to administer between 500 and 750 vaccines a day. The drive-thru clinic is located at No. 330 in Arkansas, in the parking lot northwest of the main campus of LMH Health.
Johnson said he was grateful that LMH Health could play a role in administering vaccines to people 65 and older.
“As we had planned for this phase, we focused on ensuring an equitable approach that would benefit from the support of our nonprofit community partners and the Equity Command Unit’s impact advisors, and that would allow people access this important service in a simple and convenient way, ”Johnson said. .
Dan Partridge, Lawrence-Douglas County Director of Public Health, said the hospital would play a major role in Phase 2 by vaccinating residents age 65 and older, “regardless of where they receive their care.”
“With 30,000 to 40,000 Douglas County residents meeting the requirements for this phase, this process will take some time and, of course, depends on the availability of vaccines,” Partridge said in the hospital statement. “While we definitely understand that everyone is eager to get a vaccine, patience will be incredibly important as we continue to vaccinate people included in phase 1 as we navigate the next steps to phase 2.”
To complete the county vaccine interest survey, go to dgcoks.org/vaccineinterestform. There are numerous avenues for residents who do not have access to a computer or transportation or who are at home to fill out the survey and receive the vaccine:
• A family member or friend can submit the county survey form on behalf of a resident.
• People can visit the Lawrence Public Library to complete the online form.
• Residents can request assistance from the Resource Center for the Elderly by calling 785-842-0543. Calls will be returned in the order in which they are received.
• Residents who need help accessing or transporting the vaccine can contact United Way at 785-843-6626.
• The association of visiting nurses has said it would help administer vaccines. More information will be posted when available.
In other news about hospital vaccinations, pharmacy director Christina Crowley said LMH Health has had no trouble getting enough second doses for people who have already received the first dose. Crowley said the state sends second doses based on the number of first doses it has already sent. Twelve people were in quarantine or out of state for the time they were supposed to receive their second doses, but those circumstances have been properly managed by the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment, Crowley said.