Feb 19, 2021

Hammersmith: County briefly will run out of vaccine Friday, will get more next week

Posted Feb 19, 2021 3:09 PM

By NICK GOSNELL

Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Karen Hammersmith with the Reno County Health Department said the extreme weather this week delayed delivery of some COVID-19 vaccine to the county.

"We will have used every last shot by the end of the day today," Hammersmith said Friday. "We're waiting for that shipment. It will be here next week. We're going to get the last shipment and this shipment. We were able to borrow from Sedgwick County yesterday and get some vaccine. We'll have to pay that back."

The county is taking seriously the goal to get those 65 and older vaccinated as fast as possible.

"We are giving absolutely everything that we have as soon as we get it," Hammersmith said. "We are doing what the CDC and KDHE have told us to do and we're using it."

Right now, they still plan to hold clinics next week.

"They sent an email out yesterday," Hammersmith said. "It will be shipped on Monday or Tuesday. Normally, we get shipments on Tuesday. If we got it on Monday, I would be happily surprised. I believe we're not forecast for any more hard weather. We're hoping we'll get that all in on Tuesday. Otherwise, we will be scrambling again and rescheduling, but all things are on for next week other than that we've rescheduled some stuff for Monday."

The county is still attempting to vaccinate its 65 and over population as part of phase two of the state's overall plan.

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