HUTCHINSON, Kan. — KDHE’s mobile lab will be back in Hutchinson for the next four Wednesdays to administer COVID-19 and Hepatitis A vaccines, along with rapid COVID testing. The first 30 individuals to receive a vaccine each day will be given a $15 meal coupon for Applebee’s in Hutchinson. No appointment is needed, limit one coupon a month. The lab will be set up at the Salvation Army, 700 N. Walnut Street, Hutchinson, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on July 14, 21, 28 and August 4. All services are free and confidential.
“We are excited to team up with the Thrive Corporation to offer a meal at Applebee’s,” said Reno County Health Department Director Karla Nichols. “COVID is still a threat in our community, especially with the rise of Delta variant cases in Kansas. Vaccinating is still the best line of defense we have right now.”
Reno County also saw a rise of Hepatitis A cases this spring. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis A Virus (HAV). The virus is usually spread through close personal contact with an infected person or through eating contaminated food or drink. Common symptoms of the disease include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, and fever. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is to be vaccinated with the full, two-dose series.