Sedgwick County officials have announced that COVID-19 vaccinations will be available to all employment groups under Phase Two of the state vaccination plan.  The county was originally planning to open up Phase Two vaccinations in three more phases.

County Manager Tom Stolz says an agreement with the state will allow Kansas National Guard personnel to help with vaccinations, and a second large site has opened to provide for mass vaccinations.   In addition to the former downtown library at 223 South Main, a site has opened at the Central Community Church at 6100 West Maple.  That second site will operate through Saturday, then it will relocate to the K-State Research and Extension building at 21st and Ridge Road, starting Monday, March 15th.

Stolz said the two mass vaccination sites will give the county the capacity to provide 4,000 shots per day.   He said the county will also be more aggressive in transferring vaccine doses to community partners, such as Dillons, Walgreens, pharmacies and doctors offices to work as a team to get people vaccinated.

The expansion of Phase Two will allow people in more employment groups to make appointments for the vaccine.   Those groups include public safety agencies, veterinarians, employees in licensed childcare facilities, aviation manufacturing plants and supply chain, meat processing plants, and public transportation (ground and air), clergy, higher education, private sector packaging and postal delivery, grocery store and food service employees, and high contact agriculture, retail sales, and warehouse employees.    This will help the county move through Phase Two more quickly and then move to Phase Three, which will include people age 16 to 64 with severe medical risks.

Appointments can be made through the county’s web site at www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/schedule/

Stolz said the county and its partners have already administered around 75,000 shots.