CHCS eagerly awaiting COVID-19 vaccine

Posted On: December 16, 2020 by Community HealthCare System in: Community health news News

The rollout of a vaccine against COVID-19 has begun. The Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer vaccine late last week, and another vaccine from Moderna is likely to be granted the same authorization in the next few days.

CHCS has been working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and other regulatory authorities for several months to prepare for the arrival of the vaccine. Some patients have started to ask questions about vaccine availability, so we wanted to share some information.

Vaccine has not yet arrived at CHCS, but when it does, doses will be distributed according to a phased plan established by the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC.
Phase 1a includes healthcare personnel and long-term care facility residents and staff.
When those populations are vaccinated, we will move on to Phase 1b, which includes essential workers such as police, firefighters, and educators.
The next group, Phase 1c, will be adults with high-risk medical conditions and those over age 65.

These priorities were established according to data indicating that older adults in congregate settings are more likely to be affected by COVID-19 and because of the need to ensure that staff are available to provide quality healthcare for our communities and long-term care residents. The phases were also determined to maximize benefits and help address health inequities.

According to current information, the vaccine will be available to the broader public starting in the spring and as supply becomes available. By early summer, most people who want the vaccine should be able to receive it.

“We hope our patients and communities will be patient as we work to distribute the vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible while adhering to CDC guidelines,” said Todd Willert, CHCS CEO.

CHCS will share updates as they become available.

“We will share the news widely when we have vaccine available for patients. For now, we hope everyone will keep taking necessary precautions to stop the spread of COVID-19 to give us a few more weeks to receive the vaccine and work through the logistics to ensure it is distributed appropriately,” Willert said.