Health department officials tackled a lot of extra responsibilities because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rebecca Johnson, director of the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department, told county commissioners on Tuesday.
Johnson submitted her department’s annual budget request, asking for $115,000 from Allen County. That’s the same amount received last year.
With her request, Johnson also provided an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic forced her staff to take on numerous additional duties, but the department received state and federal grants to offset much of the costs of that increased workload.
The number of COVID cases in the area seems to have gone down, Johnson said, although health officials have warned of the possibility of another surge. However, the state has switched to a weekly summary report and has not updated those figures since May 1.
The health department had a plan to address pandemics, and that allowed counties to set up mass vaccination clinics, Johnson said.
“We had been practicing for years, so when it came down to it, maybe not all of it was flawless but it felt like it had a good flow and we had lots of good comments,” she said.
Commissioners thanked Johnson for staying, when numerous other public health officials across the state left their positions amid public backlash over mask mandates and vaccination requirements.
Johnson said that’s because she has a supportive board made of 12 members with various backgrounds from across four counties. Most of those health officials who left were in one-county health departments and did not have as much support.
“I have a good board, a good support system and a lot of people with a lot of knowledge,” she said. “You get a thick skin, that’s for sure. And I have a supportive family and I have my faith.”
She offered a brief summary of some of the additional responsibilities created by the pandemic, in addition to the regular duties of health department staff:
• COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing
• Contact tracing in schools
• Regular updates to schools, commissioners and emergency managers
• Providing school and work release letters
• Providing education and public guidance
• Working with long-term care facilities
• Attending COVID task force meetings
• Distributing COVID vaccinations
Health department employees worked after business hours and on weekends to meet the needs of the public during the pandemic, she said.
The health department can still administer COVID vaccines to those who need it, including the fourth shot that is recommended for those who are at high risk, such as the elderly.
