LAWRENCE – Douglas County’s Unified Command leadership has approved an initial plan to begin distributing COVID-19 vaccines among groups identified in Phase 2 for residents 65 years and older, those who live and work in congregate settings, and essential workers.
“Doses right now are extremely limited based on the supply. Given that everyone in Phase 2 is considered critical and a priority, each group will receive an allocation of doses every week,” said Dan Partridge, Director of Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health. “We understand that this means not every group will receive a large allocation with the current scarcity of vaccine, but this approach allows us to move through Phase 2 together.”
As doses become available in Douglas County, they will be distributed equitably across the following groups: residents 65 years old and older, local government essential workers, education sector, food service industry, workers critical to the functioning of the community, those who work or live in congregate care settings, and anyone eligible in Phase 1 yet to be vaccinated.
The Vaccine Planning Unit estimates between 30,000 and 40,000 Douglas County residents could qualify for Phase 2. During Phase 1, Douglas County received less than 1,000 doses a week from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Unified Command has a Phase 2 plan that calls for vaccinating up to 3,000 people per week, and if more vaccine supplies would be made available in the future, planners expect to have the ability to triple that amount, Partridge said.
“This plan is flexible so Unified Command can respond in an equitable and timely manner to the amount of COVID-19 doses that Douglas County receives while also considering the needs of the entire community,” Douglas County Emergency Management Director Robert Bieniecki said. “With the very limited amount of doses that we are receiving at this time, we encourage patience as we work to vaccinate everyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine.”
Douglas County residents are asked to complete the Vaccine Interest Form online at dgcoks.org/vaccineinterestform, which allows residents to indicate their interest in receiving the vaccine and will help the Unified Command Vaccination Branch determine which phase they might qualify for.
For those who would qualify in Phase 2, the form will also help providers notify individuals when vaccine becomes available with instructions on how to schedule an appointment. The interest form will help identify individuals who qualify for future phases as well.
Unified Command and partner organizations are considering multiple avenues for assisting residents under the guidance of Unified Command’s Equity Impact Advisors:
- For residents without access to a computer, a friend or family member can submit the interest form on their behalf. Individuals can also visit Lawrence Public Library to complete the form online.
- Residents can also request assistance with the form from the Senior Resource Center by calling 785-842-0543 and leaving a message. Staff will return calls during business hours as quickly as they can in the order calls are received.