By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Karen Hammersmith with the Reno County Health Department made it clear that vaccinations are available to those 16 and over in Reno County, but those under 18 can only get one of the approved shots.
"Reno County does not have the Pfizer, which is the only vaccine approved for those that are 16 and over," Hammersmith said. "On our website, we don't have that available."
Reno County has mostly Moderna, but also a few Johnson and Johnson shots, but the distribution of vaccines from the state level down has changed in recent weeks, according to the Health Department's Karla Nichols.
"In past months, they supplied us, the Health Department, the vaccine and then we distributed it out to the Hutch Clinic, Prairie Star and any other vaccine providers," Nichols said. "Two weeks ago, they changed that. Now, they are sending it to us individually. I think, collectively, as a group, it's still about the amount or a little more than we have been receiving. I just can't for sure say that at this point."
They're also having data analyst D.J. Gering study where people who have gotten the shot are from.
"We also look at his assistance on where we can take vaccine to those different populations to increase the vaccine rates, to lessen any disparity and to make sure we have equality."
They plan to take vaccine clinics to outlying communities based on that data in the coming weeks.
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