With only one-third of Kansas adults having begun the vaccine process against COVID-19, “normal” is still a long way off.
You’d think after a year of anxiety, demand for the vaccine would be high.
Unfortunately, it’s not.
Once those eager to be vaccinated had done so, the rest — fence-sitters, procrastinators, doubters, and those just simply swamped by life — have been slow to take advantage.
The result is that many health centers are flooded with the free vaccine.
Today, those 16 and older can get the Pfizer vaccine; 18 and older, the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.
The trickle in demand has health officials worried.
The goal is 75%-80% to reach herd immunity; when enough people become immune to a disease that it no longer can spread.
In Allen County, there are currently 5 active cases, according to the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments.
SO HOW to reach the outliers?
Communication and accessibility are key.
Healthcare workers need to mount a full-court press about the availability and efficacy of the vaccine.
Vaccine stations should be at popular gathering sites and be made available on weekends and before- and after-work hours during the week. Employers need to bring healthcare workers on site to administer the vaccine, just as they do with flu shots.
Doctors’ offices, health clinics and pharmacies need to make the vaccine available to walk-ins, eliminating the need for appointments.
And municipalities, businesses and industries need to tighten the screws on those who opt out.
In Humboldt, for example, the city no longer provides additional paid sick leave specific to COVID-19 now that the vaccine is available.
Prior to the vaccine, Humboldt employees received paid time off if they were exposed to someone who had tested positive, were waiting on test results, were in quarantine under the advisement of the health department, or were the sole provider of someone with COVID-19.
