On Friday, Kansas State will open its vaccine distribution clinic, but the early roll-out will be limited in size and scope. That’s because Kansas remains in the second part of its phased approach to vaccine administration, which inhibits who gets a vaccine and when.
“Those phases would apply to our population of both faculty and staff and and the student population,” Dr. Kyle Goerl, Lafene Health Center’s medical director, said.
Phase 2 includes people 65-years-old and older and some essential employees with a high risk of contracting COVID-19 because they are unable to work from home or can’t always follow disease mitigation guidelines.
Kansas’ Phase 2 also includes people living in congregant settings, but students in residence halls are not considered part of that group, Goerl said.
“What [KDHE defines] as congregate living is it’s basically the long-term care facilities and prisons,” Goerl said. “Places where we’ve seen people living in proximity that is causing major outbreaks.”
Residence halls haven’t been a source of major spread or outbreaks, Goerl said, so they just are not the top priority right now.
While K-12 educators and school staff are part of Phase 2 in Kansas, university faculty, staff and administration will be vaccinated along the same criteria as the general public, Dr. Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said.
This week, people who are eligible and indicated their interest through K-State’s survey received information in their university email about setting up an appointment. Appointments are set up through the myLafene+ portal.
Jim Parker, director of Lafene Health Center and Counseling Services, said K-State’s initial allotment from the Riley County Health Department contained about 750 doses. They are Moderna’s vaccine.
Professor of practice in strategic communication Deb Skidmore would have been eligible to get a vaccine on campus through Friday’s clinic, but she ultimately decided to get her first dose through a retail pharmacy clinic in Junction City.
“I knew K-State was working on getting vaccines, but I wanted to get my COVID shot as soon as possible,” she said via email. “I did not want to wait any longer for the shots than I had to. I am so anxious to see family and hug on my grandkids.”
She was a little nervous about getting the vaccine, but ultimately didn’t have an side effects from the first shot.
“I had no reaction whatsoever. My arm was not even sore. Now, who knows about the second shot,” Skidmore said.
She’ll get her second dose in mid-March at the same pharmacy clinic.
Here’s what you need to know about the on-campus clinic:
The K-State vaccine clinic will be located at the Peters Recreation Complex during the day on Friday. People coming for the clinic should come through the north entrance. Parking will be set aside on the west side of the building.
Face coverings are required and you should not attend the clinic if you are currently isolating or quarantining.
Bring your driver’s license or campus identification card. Some additional paperwork is required — a vaccine consent form and a treatment agreement form available online.
When you come to the clinic be prepared to wait about 15 minutes after the fact for observation.
