KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wyandotte County officials said Friday they will begin vaccinating residents who fall under Phase 2 of the state's distribution plan “in stages,” rather than all at once.
The county will initially prioritize some high-contact critical workers, including first responders, K-12 educators and staff, child care providers, and grocery and food service workers.
The county's current vaccine supply does not allow for everyone in Phase 2 to be vaccinated at once, according to Van Liew, director of the Unified Government Public Health Department.
“We have made our prioritization decisions based upon who in our community have the most contact with the public, where we have seen the most COVID-19 outbreaks, and who is most at risk of exposure to the virus or serious illness,” Van Liew said. “It will take some time, but as we get more vaccines, everyone in Phase 2 will get the opportunity to get vaccinated.”
Van Liew said that in Wyandotte County, more than one in five outbreaks have occurred in these high-contact settings, making it “critical to vaccinate these workers to protect them and the community members they serve.”
Employers for those high-contact workers who want the vaccine must register using an online form. They will then be contacted to make an appointment. Walk-in vaccinations will not be available.
Once more vaccine supplies become available, the county plans to move onto other groups within Phase 2, including people 65 and older and those in congregate facilities.
People in those groups can still fill out the county’s vaccine interest form, and they will be notified when the vaccine becomes available to them.
Depending on the availability of doses and future outbreaks, the county may make changes to its order of prioritization, Van Liew said.
Here is a full list of Wyandotte County residents who are eligible to receive the vaccine in the first wave of Phase 2:
- Public safety workers such as police, fire department, EMS and sheriff’s department
- Workers in K-12 education, including teachers, custodians, bus drivers, administrators, etc.
- Child care providers — both licensed, in-home child care providers and center child care providers and their support staff
- Public transit workers
- United States Postal Service workers
- Department of Motor Vehicle workers
- Grocery, food service and food processing workers
