LAWRENCE – With Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly announcing that Kansas counties can proceed on March 22 to Phases 3 and 4 under the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, Douglas County Unified Command leaders announced plans to complete those remaining in Phase 2 and begin Phases 3-4.
"It has been a massive and challenging task these past few weeks as so many partners in our community have come together to vaccinate the different groups eligible in Phase 2,” said Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Director Dan Partridge. “The progress we have made particularly at vaccinating those ages 65 and older in our community as well as so many of our high-contact critical workers is a testament to the collaboration among our community leadership and the willingness of so many volunteers to be giving of their time.
Unified Command leaders estimate about 3,000 people qualify for Phase 2 and have yet to receive a vaccination. Phase 2 includes residents 65 and older and essential workers, including K-12 educators and food service workers. Leaders hope to complete Phase 2 in the next week. Any Douglas County resident who is Phase 1 or Phase 2 eligible but has not been notified for an appointment should complete the Vaccine Interest form again at dgcoks.org/vaccineinterestform.
Beginning the week of March 22, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health and partners will allocate 70% of the doses to those still unvaccinated in Phase 2 and the remaining 30% to those in Phases 3 and 4. That allocation will shift more toward Phases 3 and 4 in future weeks as Phase 2 becomes complete. As with Phase 2, Unified Command partners will continue to allocate 10% of the doses to those who face extra barriers to receive the vaccine or might need assistance registering.
“The goal is to finish most of Phase 2 hopefully next week and shift more of those allocations to vaccinate those eligible in Phases 3 and 4,” said Sonia Jordan, LDCPH Director of Informatics. “This community should be proud of the progress we have made, particularly for how challenging the environment was in late January with the scarcity of supply of the vaccine. It has been amazing to see how we have rallied to work through Phase 2 together. Thank you to our community, to all of our partners and our countless volunteers for this effort.”
Under the state vaccination plan, Phases 3 and 4 open vaccine eligibility to individuals between ages 16 and 64 with a preexisting medical condition and other non-healthcare workers in critical infrastructure. Individuals will be selected randomly from the Douglas County Vaccine Interest Form: dgcoks.org/vaccineinterestform.
The form also now includes a field to identify as an employee of state or local government, who are all eligible under Phases 3-4. Any Douglas County resident who has not completed the form is encouraged to do so, and any state employees who completed the interest form before March 16, when the question was added, are encouraged to complete the form again. Douglas County Unified Command staff will use your most recent form as part of the random selection of future appointments
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 by calling the Douglas County COVID Helpline, 785-864-9000, which operates 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
- Additional information about the Douglas County Unified Command COVID-19 response is available at douglascountyks.org/coronavirus and LDCHealth.org/Coronavirus.