TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Half of the 10 Kansas officials eligible along with Gov. Laura Kelly for early COVID-19 vaccine shots are opting to wait.
Kelly designated herself and 10 other state officials as eligible to start vaccinations this week in an effort to protect state government's "continuity of operations."
Four eligible Republican legislative leaders said they would wait. They are House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., Speaker Pro Tem Blaine Finch, incoming Senate President Ty Masterson and incoming Senate Vice President Rick Wilborn.
Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt said he would wait, but GOP Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt is a pharmacist and is getting inoculated.
Most of those Republicans say they don't want to jump in line ahead of health care workers, nursing home residents and other vulnerable Kansans.
Kelly's office said State Treasurer-designate Lynn Rogers and Lt. Gov.-to-be David Toland will get shots. It's not clear when Republican Secretary of State Scott Schwab or Kansas Supreme Court Justice Marla Luckert will.
