TOPEKA, Kan. – Data from local health organizations showed that more than 54,000 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered in Douglas County as of Thursday.
Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health reported that 54,258 first doses and 44,924 second doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered. That’s an increase of 521 first doses and 743 second doses since the county last reported vaccine distribution information to the Journal-World on April 29.
Douglas County has seen a decreasing demand for COVID-19 vaccinations. The most recent vaccine distribution data shows the smallest increase the county has had since it began reporting vaccine distribution information to the Journal-World on Feb. 12. Previously, the fewest number of first doses administered in a week was 809 in late April.
Thursday’s vaccine distribution data shows that local organizations have administered 54,258 of the 66,825 first doses they have received, or around 81.2%. The four organizations have also administered 44,924 of the 51,085 second doses they have received, or around 87.9%.
With both first and second doses, Douglas County organizations had administered 99,182 total doses as of Thursday. That’s an increase of 1,264 doses since data was last reported on April 29.
As of 12:30 p.m. on Monday, 55,895 Douglas County residents had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). That’s an increase of 500 residents since April 30.
Douglas County is currently the second most vaccinated county in Kansas against COVID-19, following Marshall County. According to KDHE’s dashboard, as of Monday at 12:30 p.m., 457 out of every 1,000 Douglas County residents had received at least one dose. Additionally, 543 out of every 1,000 residents who were eligible for a vaccine had received at least one dose.
The number of doses administered in Douglas County and the number of Douglas County residents who have been vaccinated are slightly different. Occasionally, people are vaccinated in counties other than their counties of residence, due to work or school.
In Kansas, the vaccine is currently available to people in Phases 1 through 5, meaning everyone 16 and older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are recommended for those 18 and older. The Pfizer vaccine is recommended for those 16 and older.
Registration for all of the health department’s vaccination clinics are open to the public, and registration codes are posted at LDCHealth.org/COVIDVaccine and Douglascountyks.org/Coronavirus. Community members may also get a vaccine at LMH Health without making an appointment.
Other vaccine distributors in Douglas County include: AuBurn Pharmacies in Baldwin City and Eudora, CVS, Dillons, Hy-Vee, Medical Arts Pharmacy, Orchards Drug, Sigler Pharmacy, Walgreens and Walmart.
People who have questions about COVID-19 or the vaccination process can call the county’s COVID hotline at 785-864-9000 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
