KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The University of Kansas Health System officials said when the COVID-19 vaccine arrives at their hospital, they have a specific department in mind to get it straight away.
"In our internal facility, we are prioritizing those who are going to have direct exposure to patients who have COVID-19," Dr. Steven Stites, University of Kansas Health System chief medical officer, said. "That really means the frontline workers who are actively taking care of COVID-19 patients. Whether that is a physician or a nurse or a dietitian or social worker or respiratory therapist. The CDC and HHS agrees on doses by state. Each state has its own team of folks who look at that vaccination and the number they are going to get."
Kansas has five storage centers for the vaccine, and one is with the University of Kansas Health System.
"Each hospital or local group, for example, our hospital, we prioritize who we think -- based on the number of vaccines doses we get -- we prioritize those on data of people we are going to give to," Stites said.
Health care workers will be among the first to receive the vaccine. National Nurses United said the relief is needed, but it should be just the start.
"Nurses are tired and still fighting for basic protections," Michelle Mahon, assistant director of nursing practice for National Nurses United, said, "and the vaccine is not going to change our need for optional PPE."
The union said educating communities about how the public can not let its guard down across the country will be critical.
"Let's be clear -- Nurses understand fully that value of vaccines and vaccinations have saved countless lives," Mahon said.
Government officials said some states will receive shipments as early as Monday.
