KANSAS CITY, Mo. — 41 Action News is offering a daily recap of COVID-19 related stories from across Kansas City and the country. Check back every morning for the latest developments.
LATEST: COVID-19 case tracker for Missouri, Kansas and Kansas City
University of Kansas Health System daily update
Doctors at the University of Kansas Health System said Wednesday they have fewer than 100 patients in the hospital with COVID-19.
Forty-one patients are suffering acute infections, nine of whom are in the intensive care unit. Six of those people are on ventilators.
Fifty-seven patients are in recovery phases of the virus.
Johnson County Department of Health and Environment Director Dr. Sanmi Areola joined the doctors on Wednesday’s call. He said the county has around 150,000 people in priority groups for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. David Wild said supply is an obstacle in getting all those people vaccinated.
“More avenues for vaccination is an excellent thing, but they only become effective when you have enough supply — and right now we are really in this conversation of you can only slice a pie so many ways,” Wild said. “That no doubt is is I think the biggest limiting factor across the board.”
The health system’s chief medical officer, Dr. Steve Stites, joined by phone Wednesday as he was home recovering from side effects of his COVID-19 vaccine.
Stites said he had a fever and headache after receiving the second dose of the Moderna vaccine during Tuesday's call.
“I’m here to tell you that the side effects are real but they’re very survivable,” Stites said. “I’m still very glad I got the second dose of Moderna's vaccine, and I know it's going to lead to the right thing, so it's all tolerable. But it is a bit of a wallop sometimes. It does pack a punch.”
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of infection prevention, said Stites’ side effects are considered to be mild and are a good sign that his immune system is ramping up and the vaccine is working as it should.
Kansas, Missouri officials say supply continues to be major obstacle in COVID-19 vaccine rollout
State officials in Kansas and Missouri say they have three times the number of requests for vaccines from providers as they have vaccine available.
They say even with Operation Warp Speed efforts, the U.S. is not likely to see a sizeable increase in supply until another company, such as AstraZeneca or Johnson and Johnson, enters the picture.
What to know about COVID-19 vaccine sign-ups as Missouri adjusts rollout
Kansas City-area hospitals are preparing to become mass vaccination sites as Missouri adjusts its rollout plan.
Officials from several area health departments say residents should continue to sign up for the vaccine through their forms and keep an eye on announcements about hospital clinics that should be forthcoming in the next few days.
Not all Kansas City pharmacies participating in new vaccine plan
The federal government announced plans Tuesday to distribute 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses through 6,500 pharmacies nationwide.
Some pharmacies in the Kansas City area, notably Walgreens and CVS, did not select location in Kansas or Missouri for distribution.
Seven pharmacies, including those in Walmart and Sam's Club locations, will vaccinate in Kansas and Missouri.
Chiefs president Mark Donovan: Arrowhead Stadium could be COVID-19 mass vaccination site
Arrowhead Stadium could become a mass vaccination site.
Kansas City Chiefs president Mark Donovan said the organization is in negotiations to make it happen.
The Chiefs previously helped out during the COVID-19 pandemic by converting the stadium into a socially distanced polling place for the 2020 election.
2 Chiefs players in quarantine after barber tests positive
Wide receiver Damarcus Robinson and center Daniel Kilgore were placed on the COVID-19/reserve list on Monday after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive.
On Tuesday, it was reported that person was a barber who'd cut both players' hair within two days of testing positive.
If Robinson and Kilgore continue to test negative, it is possible they could still suit up for Super Bowl LV.
3 COVID-19 mass vaccination sites located near KC metro
The state of Missouri announced on Tuesday the locations of some mass vaccination sites. Three of those are near, but not in, the immediate Kansas City area.
Vaccines will be available at the following times and locations:
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 5, at Clinton First Baptist Church, 153 North Vansant Road, in Clinton.
- 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 4, at Methodist Church, 1414 Walnut St., in Chilicothe.
- 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 6, at South Harrison High School, 3400 Bulldog Ave., in Bethany.
Kansas Senate asked to condemn inmates' early COVID-19 shots
A Republican leader in the GOP-majority Kansas Legislature is asking his colleagues to condemn part of the state's COVID-19 distribution plan.
Phase 2 calls for people living in congregate settings, including prisons, to be vaccinated.
The senator said the plan means inmates, especially those convicted of violent crimes, "would be offered life-saving vaccines before their victims."
Beware COVID-19 scam text making the rounds
A tech-savvy 83-year-old wants to make sure people don't fall for scams related to COVID-19 relief.
She said she received a text message offering around $1,500 daily in pandemic relief money. While she didn't fall for it, she wanted to bring awareness for those who may be susceptible.
—
Find more coronavirus news and resources from 41 Action News here.
