TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly Wednesday announced when the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to become available for population groups across the state. The framework begins this winter with high-risk Kansans such as health care personnel and long term care facility staff and residents, eventually reaching the general public in the summer of 2021.

“Through this framework, my administration upholds our commitment to maximizing benefits, minimizing harm, and striving for equity, justice, and fairness when it comes to when the vaccine will be made available to which Kansans,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“We are committed to protecting the greatest number of Kansans, fostering economic recovery, and getting our kids back&nbsp;into&nbsp;school&nbsp;buildings&nbsp;as quickly and safely as possible.”

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.lmsxg-4k5mMx0HGBotOgT-H4HOHyWm3xk2zl4uNvz78/s/1303160919/br/92005880953-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;CLICK here to see a visual representation of the distribution order&nbsp;</a>

An outline of the expected availability is as follows:

Adherence to this expected framework will be dependent on receipt of COVID-19 vaccine doses from the companies distributing them.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 4,551 to a total of 194,569 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;

Coronavirus deaths were reported at 2,253 an increase of 144.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly Wednesday announced when the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to become available for population groups across the state. The framework begins this winter with high-risk Kansans such as health care personnel and long term care facility staff and residents, eventually reaching the general public in the summer of 2021.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F155260669266933%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“Through this framework, my administration upholds our commitment to maximizing benefits, minimizing harm, and striving for equity, justice, and fairness when it comes to when the vaccine will be made available to which Kansans,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“We are committed to protecting the greatest number of Kansans, fostering economic recovery, and getting our kids back&nbsp;into&nbsp;school&nbsp;buildings&nbsp;as quickly and safely as possible.”<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.lmsxg-4k5mMx0HGBotOgT-H4HOHyWm3xk2zl4uNvz78/s/1303160919/br/92005880953-l" target="_blank">&nbsp;CLICK here to see a visual representation of the distribution order&nbsp;</a>An outline of the expected availability is as follows:<ul>
 <li>The COVID-19 vaccine will be available in the winter, on a very limited basis, for health care personnel, long term care facility staff, long term care residents, and EMS/frontline public health workers;</li><li>The vaccine will become available in late winter, on a limited basis, for first responders, some public facing workers in essential and critical infrastructure, teachers, school staff, child care workers, and individuals at high risk for adverse health consequences;</li><li>The vaccine will become available in the spring, at an increased availability, for all other adults;</li><li>And finally, the vaccine will become generally available in the summer for all Kansans, including children.</li>
 </ul>Adherence to this expected framework will be dependent on receipt of COVID-19 vaccine doses from the companies distributing them.The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kansas increased by 4,551 to a total of 194,569 the state health department reported Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Coronavirus deaths were reported at 2,253 an increase of 144.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1608144161925.png" alt="Wednesday Dec. 16, 2020 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday Dec. 16, 2020 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥  Gov. Kelly update on COVID-19 vaccine distribution

&nbsp; An 89 year-old Riley County man passed away at Ascension Via Christi hospital on December 15 after testing positive for COVID-19 on November 30. His passing represents the 19th&nbsp;COVID-related death in the county. No further information will be released about the patient. Riley County has identified 55 new positive cases and 52 additional recoveries since the last report on Monday, December 14. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for seven positive patients and two PUI patients at this time. Two of the positive patients are in the ICU. Via Christi Hospital administered the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine to some of their staff today. Healthcare workers who care for COVID patients will be the first priority for the vaccine. FAQ information about the COVID-19 vaccine is posted on the Riley County Coronavirus website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=f065455fda&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1873/Frequently-Asked-Questions</a>

&nbsp; An 89 year-old Riley County man passed away at Ascension Via Christi hospital on December 15 after testing positive for COVID-19 on November 30. His passing represents the 19th&nbsp;COVID-related death in the county. No further information will be released about the patient. Riley County has identified 55 new positive cases and 52 additional recoveries since the last report on Monday, December 14. Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for seven positive patients and two PUI patients at this time. Two of the positive patients are in the ICU. Via Christi Hospital administered the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine to some of their staff today. Healthcare workers who care for COVID patients will be the first priority for the vaccine. FAQ information about the COVID-19 vaccine is posted on the Riley County Coronavirus website at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=f065455fda&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.rileycountyks.gov/1873/Frequently-Asked-Questions</a>

Riley County health officials provide COVID-19 update

The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library will be closed on Wednesday.

COVID-19 testing on Tuesday at Dorothy Bramlage Library has resulted in a temporary closure of the facility. Director Susan Moyer confirmed there was a round of COVID-19 testing that was administered by staff from the Fire Department. "And we did learn that we had some positive cases on our staff so we have closed for today ( Tuesday ).&nbsp; " Decisions will be made soon on the plan of action for the library for the next several days.

Moyer noted that they are seeking a Health Department recommendation on a course of action for the future days.

UPDATE:The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library will be closed on Wednesday.---COVID-19 testing on Tuesday at Dorothy Bramlage Library has resulted in a temporary closure of the facility. Director Susan Moyer confirmed there was a round of COVID-19 testing that was administered by staff from the Fire Department. "And we did learn that we had some positive cases on our staff so we have closed for today ( Tuesday ).&nbsp; " Decisions will be made soon on the plan of action for the library for the next several days.Moyer noted that they are seeking a Health Department recommendation on a course of action for the future days.

Library is closed temporarily due to COVID-19 concerns

Geary County Health Department officials reported Tuesday that there were 23 new positive COVID-19 cases and 27 recovered cases.

There are 193 active cases in Geary County and residents are hospitalized. Four of those hospitalized are in the intensive care unit and three are on ventilators.

Geary County Health Department officials reported Tuesday that there were 23 new positive COVID-19 cases and 27 recovered cases.There are 193 active cases in Geary County and residents are hospitalized. Four of those hospitalized are in the intensive care unit and three are on ventilators.

Health Department releases the latest COVID-19 count

There was a 28% increase in the positive rate for COVID-19 cases at Geary Community Hospital from November to December. The COVID-19 numbers were reviewed for the Hospital Trustees Tuesday. There have been 642 people tested in December, up 182 from November.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There was a recent outbreak at Valley View Senior Life involving 59 positive cases, with two admitted to the hospital.&nbsp;

So far 23,850 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer have been delivered to Kansas, but none to Geary Community Hospital yet. GCH officials are not sure how many doses they will receive in this first round of distribution.&nbsp;

As of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday there were 10 COVID-19 inpatients at the hospital. Five were being treat in the intensive care unit with four on ventilators. There were five more patients on the med/surg floor.

There was a 28% increase in the positive rate for COVID-19 cases at Geary Community Hospital from November to December. The COVID-19 numbers were reviewed for the Hospital Trustees Tuesday. There have been 642 people tested in December, up 182 from November.&nbsp;&nbsp;There was a recent outbreak at Valley View Senior Life involving 59 positive cases, with two admitted to the hospital.&nbsp;So far 23,850 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer have been delivered to Kansas, but none to Geary Community Hospital yet. GCH officials are not sure how many doses they will receive in this first round of distribution.&nbsp;As of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday there were 10 COVID-19 inpatients at the hospital. Five were being treat in the intensive care unit with four on ventilators. There were five more patients on the med/surg floor.

COVID-19 positive rate is up for Geary Community Hospital

Geary County health officials have reported 5 new positive COVID-19 cases from last Friday, and 23 recovered cases. There was one death.

On Monday the Health Department confirmed there were 46 new positive cases and 57 recovered cases in the county. There are 197 active cases and there have been seven deaths since the pandemic began. Ten people are hospitalized.

Geary County health officials have reported 5 new positive COVID-19 cases from last Friday, and 23 recovered cases. There was one death.On Monday the Health Department confirmed there were 46 new positive cases and 57 recovered cases in the county. There are 197 active cases and there have been seven deaths since the pandemic began. Ten people are hospitalized.s

Health Department updates COVID-19 numbers

WESTMORELAND, Kan. - The Pottawatomie County Health Department released a community update on local Coronavirus numbers.&nbsp;

On Monday, the department announced that there are 35 new confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 in the county since Friday's report. In addition to the new cases, there have been 27 recoveries, bringing the county's total since the beginning of the pandemic to 751.

The county tested 99 individuals since the last report, with 63 being negative and one still awaiting results.&nbsp;

There are currently five patients hospitalized with Covid-19 in the county, down two since the last report, with no additional coronavirus-related deaths.

WESTMORELAND, Kan. - The Pottawatomie County Health Department released a community update on local Coronavirus numbers.&nbsp;On Monday, the department announced that there are 35 new confirmed positive cases of Covid-19 in the county since Friday's report. In addition to the new cases, there have been 27 recoveries, bringing the county's total since the beginning of the pandemic to 751.The county tested 99 individuals since the last report, with 63 being negative and one still awaiting results.&nbsp;There are currently five patients hospitalized with Covid-19 in the county, down two since the last report, with no additional coronavirus-related deaths.

Pottawatomie County Releases Community Update

Valley View Senior Life has been fortunate to have zero COVID-19 cases for well over nine months since the pandemic has affected the entire country and our community.

This has been possible, in large part by our dedicated front-line essential employees working diligently, around the clock initiating mandated KDHE, CDC, KDADS and Medicare’s

Infection Control procedures and protocol. Just weeks ago, Valley View Senior Life had their Kansas State Infection Control inspection and received 100% compliance!

Despite all our compliant practices, we now have contracted COVID-19 in our campus that has affected our residents and staff. We believe in keeping the community informed of our progress in containing the virus in the next few weeks.

Fortunately, vaccines will be arriving in mere days, and we anxiously await Valley View’s allotment to help stem the tide of this virus.

We want to thank the community for your support. Geary County Hospital, Director of Geary County Health Department, Tammy Von Busch, Director of Geary County Emergency Services, Garry Berges, and our Medical Director, Dr. Mace, have been invaluable during this time.

We are awaiting final test results on residents and staff and will keep the community informed on our testing and results in the next few days.

Valley View Senior Life has been fortunate to have zero COVID-19 cases for well over nine months since the pandemic has affected the entire country and our community.This has been possible, in large part by our dedicated front-line essential employees working diligently, around the clock initiating mandated KDHE, CDC, KDADS and Medicare’sInfection Control procedures and protocol. Just weeks ago, Valley View Senior Life had their Kansas State Infection Control inspection and received 100% compliance!Despite all our compliant practices, we now have contracted COVID-19 in our campus that has affected our residents and staff. We believe in keeping the community informed of our progress in containing the virus in the next few weeks.Fortunately, vaccines will be arriving in mere days, and we anxiously await Valley View’s allotment to help stem the tide of this virus.We want to thank the community for your support. Geary County Hospital, Director of Geary County Health Department, Tammy Von Busch, Director of Geary County Emergency Services, Garry Berges, and our Medical Director, Dr. Mace, have been invaluable during this time.We are awaiting final test results on residents and staff and will keep the community informed on our testing and results in the next few days.

Valley View Senior Life provides a COVID-19 update

(RILEY COUNTY, KS – December 14, 2020) Two Riley County residents died over the weekend, marking the 17th&nbsp;and 18th&nbsp;Covid-related deaths in the county since the start of the pandemic. One patient was a 76 year-old male who tested positive on November 28. He was admitted to Ascension Via Christi hospital for treatment the same day and passed away on December 12. The second patient was a 102 year-old female who tested positive on December 1, and was also admitted to the hospital for care. She passed away December 13. No further information will be released about the patients. &nbsp; Riley County has identified 71 new positive cases and 229 additional recoveries since the last report on Friday, December 11. &nbsp; Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for nine positive patients at this time. Four of those patients are in the ICU. &nbsp; Almost all of the test results from last Thursday’s free testing event have been received. Contact tracing staff started contacting participants on Sunday. It will likely take a few days to notify all 558 people who were tested.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Any person who is sick or would like more information about how to get tested, should call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Any person experiencing life-threatening symptoms should call 911. &nbsp; Riley County Statistics for Monday, December 14, 2020:

&nbsp; Case counts are preliminary and subject to verification.

Statement from the Riley County Health Department:

Consistent with the practice of other counties in Kansas, the Riley County Health Department will no longer share outbreak data. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve so do our practices and procedures to meet the needs of the public and to best serve them. Our staff spends a great deal of time and effort keeping people informed with factual information, educating on proper health-related actions, and contact tracing, all in an effort to contain the spread of the virus in Riley County. As the number of positive coronavirus cases increases, we will focus our limited time and resources on actions that we believe will reduce the spread and discontinue other time-intensive tasks that may not produce the same results. We will also be shifting some staff time to planning and preparation for vaccine distribution. At the beginning of the pandemic when there were fewer cases and less data to compile, our team was able to provide more detailed information and specifics to the public.&nbsp; We previously reported the decision to stop identifying the location of outbreaks in an effort to encourage people’s willingness to report their location information to contact tracers. That effort has not been successful. A number of people we spoke to during contact tracing have been unable to accurately determine where they came into contact with the virus due to widespread community spread — limiting our ability to factually record the data. Many also do not remember or know if they have had contact with any positive patients. To remain consistent in recording data and present people with the most factual information as we know it, outbreak information will no longer be reported as of today, Monday, December 14, for the reasons listed above. All case information will continue to be shared with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Information requests about outbreaks in Riley County should be addressed to KDHE. The next written update will be published Wednesday December 16. The next video update will be Wednesday, December 16 at 4:15 p.m. on the RCHD Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=362f9d6c58&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>. Drive-up flu shots are available at the health department. Please make an appointment by calling 785-776-4779 ext. 7675 or schedule an appointment online at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=57901fce34&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">http://www.rileycountyks.gov/flu</a>.&nbsp;

(RILEY COUNTY, KS – December 14, 2020) Two Riley County residents died over the weekend, marking the 17th&nbsp;and 18th&nbsp;Covid-related deaths in the county since the start of the pandemic. One patient was a 76 year-old male who tested positive on November 28. He was admitted to Ascension Via Christi hospital for treatment the same day and passed away on December 12. The second patient was a 102 year-old female who tested positive on December 1, and was also admitted to the hospital for care. She passed away December 13. No further information will be released about the patients. &nbsp; Riley County has identified 71 new positive cases and 229 additional recoveries since the last report on Friday, December 11. &nbsp; Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for nine positive patients at this time. Four of those patients are in the ICU. &nbsp; Almost all of the test results from last Thursday’s free testing event have been received. Contact tracing staff started contacting participants on Sunday. It will likely take a few days to notify all 558 people who were tested.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Any person who is sick or would like more information about how to get tested, should call the Riley County Screening Line at 785-323-6400. The Screening Line is staffed by nurses and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Any person experiencing life-threatening symptoms should call 911. &nbsp; Riley County Statistics for Monday, December 14, 2020:<ul>
 <li>Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 4,341</li><li>Total active: &nbsp;341</li><li>Total recovered: 3,982</li><li>Total deaths: 18</li>
 </ul>&nbsp; Case counts are preliminary and subject to verification.<figure>
 <img src="" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Statement from the Riley County Health Department:Consistent with the practice of other counties in Kansas, the Riley County Health Department will no longer share outbreak data. As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve so do our practices and procedures to meet the needs of the public and to best serve them. Our staff spends a great deal of time and effort keeping people informed with factual information, educating on proper health-related actions, and contact tracing, all in an effort to contain the spread of the virus in Riley County. As the number of positive coronavirus cases increases, we will focus our limited time and resources on actions that we believe will reduce the spread and discontinue other time-intensive tasks that may not produce the same results. We will also be shifting some staff time to planning and preparation for vaccine distribution. At the beginning of the pandemic when there were fewer cases and less data to compile, our team was able to provide more detailed information and specifics to the public.&nbsp; We previously reported the decision to stop identifying the location of outbreaks in an effort to encourage people’s willingness to report their location information to contact tracers. That effort has not been successful. A number of people we spoke to during contact tracing have been unable to accurately determine where they came into contact with the virus due to widespread community spread — limiting our ability to factually record the data. Many also do not remember or know if they have had contact with any positive patients. To remain consistent in recording data and present people with the most factual information as we know it, outbreak information will no longer be reported as of today, Monday, December 14, for the reasons listed above. All case information will continue to be shared with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Information requests about outbreaks in Riley County should be addressed to KDHE. The next written update will be published Wednesday December 16. The next video update will be Wednesday, December 16 at 4:15 p.m. on the RCHD Facebook page at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=362f9d6c58&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/</a>. Drive-up flu shots are available at the health department. Please make an appointment by calling 785-776-4779 ext. 7675 or schedule an appointment online at&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=57901fce34&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">http://www.rileycountyks.gov/flu</a>.&nbsp;

Two additional COVID-19 deaths reported in Riley County

There were nine COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Geary Community Hospital as of Monday morning. Officials reported that there were 25 positive tests over the weekend and 50 negative tests. One test is still pending.

Since the pandemic began there have been 6,242 positive tests and 5,518 negative tests.

There were nine COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Geary Community Hospital as of Monday morning. Officials reported that there were 25 positive tests over the weekend and 50 negative tests. One test is still pending.Since the pandemic began there have been 6,242 positive tests and 5,518 negative tests.

GCH reports nine COVID-19 hospitalizations

The largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history got underway Monday as health workers in select hospitals rolled up their sleeves for shots to protect them from COVID-19 and start beating back the pandemic — a day of optimism even as the nation’s death toll neared 300,000.

“I feel hopeful today. Relieved,” said critical case nurse Sandra Lindsay after getting a shot in the arm at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York.

Shipments of precious frozen vials of vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech began arriving at hospitals around the country Monday.

“This is the light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s a long tunnel,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as he watched Lindsay’s vaccination via video.

Several other countries also have OK’d the vaccine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-gives-first-covid-19-vaccine-doses-719288c35d8ef8815b56b1c9c5fff24c">including the U.K.</a>, which started vaccinating last week.

For health care workers who, along with nursing home residents, will be first in line for vaccination, hope is tempered by grief and the sheer exhaustion of months spent battling a coronavirus that still is surging in the U.S. and around the world.

“This is mile 24 of a marathon. People are fatigued. But we also recognize that this end is in sight,” said Dr. Chris Dale of Swedish Health Services in Seattle.

Packed in dry ice to stay at ultra-frozen temperatures,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-d4525c56fd2606f1c0dae46ac3c96405">the first of nearly 3 million doses&nbsp;</a>being shipped in staggered batches this week made their way by truck and by plane around the country Sunday from Pfizer’s Kalamazoo, Michigan, factory. Once they arrive at distribution centers, each state directs where the doses go next.

Some hospitals across the country spent the weekend tracking their packages, refreshing FedEx and UPS websites for clues.

More of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will arrive each week. And later this week, the FDA will decide whether to green light the world’s second rigorously studied COVID-19 vaccine, made by Moderna Inc.

Now the hurdle is to rapidly get vaccine into the arms of millions, not just doctors and nurses but other at-risk health workers such as janitors and food handlers — and then deliver a second dose three weeks later.

“We’re also in the middle of a surge, and it’s the holidays, and our health care workers have been working at an extraordinary pace,” said Sue Mashni, chief pharmacy officer at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.

Plus, the shots can cause temporary fever, fatigue and aches as they rev up people’s immune systems, forcing hospitals to stagger employee vaccinations.

A wary public will be watching closely to see whether health workers embrace vaccination. Just half of Americans say they want to get vaccinated, while about a quarter don’t and the rest are unsure, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-us-half-want-vaccine-shots-4d98dbfc0a64d60d52ac84c3065dac55">recent poll&nbsp;</a>by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Health Research.

The FDA, considered the world’s most strict medical regulator, said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine appears safe and strongly protective -- and laid out the data behind it in a daylong public meeting last week for scientists and consumers alike to see.

“Please people, when you look back in a year and you say to yourself, ‘Did I do the right thing?’ I hope you’ll be able to say, ‘Yes, because I looked at the evidence,’” Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press. “People are dying right now. How could you possibly say, ‘Let’s wait and see.’”

Still, emergency use means the vaccine was cleared for widespread use before a final study in nearly 44,000 people is complete -- and that research is continuing to try to answer additional questions. While effective against COVID-19 illness, it’s not yet clear if vaccination will stop the symptomless spread that accounts for half of all cases.

The shots still must be studied in children, and during pregnancy. But the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said late Sunday that vaccination should not be withheld from pregnant women who otherwise would qualify.

While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA’s instructions tell providers not to give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607960673587.png" alt="Sandra Lindsay, an ICU Nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens is the first American to get the vaccine in a non-trial setting, according to the office of New York Governor.&nbsp;Dr. Michelle Chester administered the shot." />
 <figcaption>Sandra Lindsay, an ICU Nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens is the first American to get the vaccine in a non-trial setting, according to the office of New York Governor.&nbsp;Dr. Michelle Chester administered the shot.</figcaption>
 </figure>By LAURAN NEERGAARD, Associated PressThe largest vaccination campaign in U.S. history got underway Monday as health workers in select hospitals rolled up their sleeves for shots to protect them from COVID-19 and start beating back the pandemic — a day of optimism even as the nation’s death toll neared 300,000.“I feel hopeful today. Relieved,” said critical case nurse Sandra Lindsay after getting a shot in the arm at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York.Shipments of precious frozen vials of vaccine made by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech began arriving at hospitals around the country Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Watch LIVE as the first person in New York gets vaccinated: <a href="https://t.co/a3p8QOtK6w">https://t.co/a3p8QOtK6w</a>&mdash; Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYGovCuomo/status/1338488030416388098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“This is the light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s a long tunnel,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said as he watched Lindsay’s vaccination via video.Several other countries also have OK’d the vaccine,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-gives-first-covid-19-vaccine-doses-719288c35d8ef8815b56b1c9c5fff24c">including the U.K.</a>, which started vaccinating last week.For health care workers who, along with nursing home residents, will be first in line for vaccination, hope is tempered by grief and the sheer exhaustion of months spent battling a coronavirus that still is surging in the U.S. and around the world.“This is mile 24 of a marathon. People are fatigued. But we also recognize that this end is in sight,” said Dr. Chris Dale of Swedish Health Services in Seattle.Packed in dry ice to stay at ultra-frozen temperatures,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-d4525c56fd2606f1c0dae46ac3c96405">the first of nearly 3 million doses&nbsp;</a>being shipped in staggered batches this week made their way by truck and by plane around the country Sunday from Pfizer’s Kalamazoo, Michigan, factory. Once they arrive at distribution centers, each state directs where the doses go next.Some hospitals across the country spent the weekend tracking their packages, refreshing FedEx and UPS websites for clues.More of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will arrive each week. And later this week, the FDA will decide whether to green light the world’s second rigorously studied COVID-19 vaccine, made by Moderna Inc.Now the hurdle is to rapidly get vaccine into the arms of millions, not just doctors and nurses but other at-risk health workers such as janitors and food handlers — and then deliver a second dose three weeks later.“We’re also in the middle of a surge, and it’s the holidays, and our health care workers have been working at an extraordinary pace,” said Sue Mashni, chief pharmacy officer at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.Plus, the shots can cause temporary fever, fatigue and aches as they rev up people’s immune systems, forcing hospitals to stagger employee vaccinations.A wary public will be watching closely to see whether health workers embrace vaccination. Just half of Americans say they want to get vaccinated, while about a quarter don’t and the rest are unsure, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-us-half-want-vaccine-shots-4d98dbfc0a64d60d52ac84c3065dac55">recent poll&nbsp;</a>by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Health Research.The FDA, considered the world’s most strict medical regulator, said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine appears safe and strongly protective -- and laid out the data behind it in a daylong public meeting last week for scientists and consumers alike to see.“Please people, when you look back in a year and you say to yourself, ‘Did I do the right thing?’ I hope you’ll be able to say, ‘Yes, because I looked at the evidence,’” Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press. “People are dying right now. How could you possibly say, ‘Let’s wait and see.’”Still, emergency use means the vaccine was cleared for widespread use before a final study in nearly 44,000 people is complete -- and that research is continuing to try to answer additional questions. While effective against COVID-19 illness, it’s not yet clear if vaccination will stop the symptomless spread that accounts for half of all cases.The shots still must be studied in children, and during pregnancy. But the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said late Sunday that vaccination should not be withheld from pregnant women who otherwise would qualify.While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA’s instructions tell providers not to give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.___

 🎥 ICU nurse is first to get Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination

PORTAGE, Michigan (AP) — The first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites across the United States on Sunday, as the nation’s pandemic deaths approached the horrifying new milestone of 300,000.

The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, ushers in the biggest vaccination effort in U.S. history — one that health officials hope the American public will embrace, even as some have voiced initial skepticism or worry. Shots are expected to be given to health care workers and nursing home residents beginning Monday.

Quick transport is key for the vaccine, especially since this one must be stored at extremely low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Early Sunday, workers at Pfizer — dressed in fluorescent yellow clothing, hard hats and gloves — wasted no time as they packed vials into boxes. They scanned the packages and then placed them into freezer cases with dry ice. The vaccines were then taken from Pfizer’s Portage, Michigan, facility to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, where the first cargo plane took off amid what airport officials called a “jubilant” mood.

“This is a historic day,” said Richard W. Smith, who oversees operations in the Americas for FedEx Express, which is delivering 630-some packages of vaccine to distribution sites across the country. United Parcel Service also is transporting a share of the vaccine.

Helping with the transport of the vaccine has special meaning to Bruce Smith, a FedEx package handler at the Grand Rapids airport, whose older sister, Queen, died after she contracted the coronavirus in May. She was hospitalized in Georgia one day after he saw her on a video chat, and they never spoke again.

“I think she would be ecstatic to know that something that has ravaged our family — that a family member is going to be part of such a big project,” said Smith, 58, whose nephew, Queen’s son, also got sick and is still undergoing therapy for stroke-like symptoms. “It is very, very important.”

Tracked with GPS-enabled sensors, the initial shipments were expected to contain about 3 million doses, with many more to come. Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine will be staggered, arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday, with another 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday. Doses of the vaccine, co-developed by German partner BioNTech, are given out based on each state’s adult population. Then the states decide where they go first.

In California, where health care workers will be among the first to be vaccinated, state health officials are prioritizing hospitals that have adequate storage capacity, serve high-risk populations and have the ability to vaccinate people quickly.

Initial surveys have found that even some health care workers don’t want to be first in line. Dr. Graham Snyder, who’s led the vaccine task force at Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC, estimates that about half of its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered.

But many health officials expect enthusiasm to grow.

“There’s that thought that maybe they don’t have to be so afraid to come to work if they can be vaccinated and be immune,” said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, medical director of hospital quality at the 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi. Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection, she said. Enough vaccine is being saved so that each person who gets the first dose of vaccine can get a second required shot a few weeks later.

Senior U.S. government officials, including some White House officials who work in close proximity to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, are among those who will be offered coronavirus&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-politics-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-michael-pence-f5a759c9d597d0e458c5fc9d2a96ee6f">vaccines as soon as this week</a>, two people familiar with the matter confirmed.

A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about half of Americans want to get the vaccine as soon as possible. Another quarter aren’t sure, while the remaining quarter say they aren’t interested. Some simply oppose vaccines in general. Others are concerned that the vaccines have been rushed and want to see how the rollout goes.

Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the FDA, which approved the Pfizer vaccine Friday, has repeatedly insisted that the agency’s decision was based on science, not politics, despite a White House threat to fire him if the vaccine wasn’t approved before Saturday.

Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, a U.S. effort to get vaccines developed quickly, also said he is “very concerned” about the skepticism about the vaccine in some circles.

“Unfortunately ... there’s been a confusion between how thorough and scientific and factual the work that has been done is, and the perception that people are thinking that we cut corners ...,” Slaoui said. “I can guarantee you that no such things have happened, that we follow the science.”

He called the development of vaccines from several pharmaceutical companies, including Moderna and AstraZeneca, “a remarkable achievement of science, academia, the industry ecosystem and the U.S. government, working together.”

The Moderna vaccine will be reviewed by an expert panel Thursday and soon afterward could be allowed for public use.

KALAMAZOO, Michigan (AP) — The first shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the United States headed Sunday from Michigan to distribution centers across the country, with the first shots expected to be given in the coming week to health care workers and at nursing homes.

Shipments of the Pfizer vaccine will set in motion the biggest vaccination effort in American history at a critical juncture of the pandemic that has killed 1.6 million and sickened 71 million worldwide.

Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be sent out, and the priority is health care workers and nursing home residents as infections, hospitalizations and deaths soar in the U.S. With numbers likely to get worse over the holidays, the vaccine is offering a bright spot in the fight against the pandemic that’s killed nearly 300,000 Americans.

Federal officials say the first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine will be staggered, arriving in 145 distribution centers Monday, with an additional 425 sites getting shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday. The vaccine, co-developed by German partner BioNTech, is being doled out based on each state’s adult population.

Pennsylvania health care giant UPMC has chosen staff who are critical to operating its facilities as among those getting the first round of vaccinations, said Dr. Graham Snyder, who led the center’s vaccine task force.

“It’s very exciting. I will be thrilled, that moment when we administer our first dose,” Snyder said Saturday. “That will clearly be a watershed moment for us.”

Snyder said the UPMC system estimates that half its employees are willing to get the vaccine as soon as it’s offered to them.

The vaccine is heading to hospitals and other sites that can store it at extremely low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Pfizer is using containers with dry ice and GPS-enabled sensors to ensure each shipment stays colder than the weather in Antarctica.

Doses should be delivered to all vaccination sites identified by states, such as local pharmacies, within three weeks, federal officials said.

The 40-hospital Oschner Health System in Louisiana and Mississippi expects to receive more than 9,000 doses in the coming days, said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, medical director of hospital quality.

Employees approved for the first round are getting texts and emails directing them to schedule their initial injection, she said.

“I would say there’s enthusiasm,” Kemmerly said Saturday. “There’s that thought that maybe they don’t have to be so afraid to come to work if they can be vaccinated and be immune.”

The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine Friday, saying it is highly protective and presents no major safety issues. While U.S. regulators worked for months to emphasize the rigor and independence of their review, they faced political pressure until the final stages.

Concerns that a shot was rushed out could undermine vaccination efforts in a country where some are skeptical about vaccines — some because of overall opposition to vaccines and others because of the quick timeframe in which the virus vaccines were developed. Even some health care workers have said in surveys that they would forgo at least the first round of shots to see how things go.

The head of the FDA has repeatedly insisted that the agency’s decision was based on science, not politics, despite a White House threat to fire him if the vaccine wasn’t approved before Saturday.

Speaking Sunday to Fox News, Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief science adviser to Operation Warp Speed, a U.S. effort to get vaccines developed quickly, also said he is “very concerned” about the skepticism about the vaccine in some circles.

“Unfortunately ... there’s been a confusion between how thorough and scientific and factual the work that has been done is, and the perception that people are thinking that we cut corners or anything like that,” Slaoui said. “I can guarantee you that no such things have happened, that we follow the science.”

Another vaccine by Moderna will be reviewed by an expert panel next week and soon afterward could be allowed for public use.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine will begin arriving in states Monday morning, U.S. officials said Saturday, after the government gave the final go-ahead to the shots needed to end an outbreak that has killed nearly 300,000 Americans.

Trucks will roll out Sunday morning as shipping companies UPS and FedEx begin delivering Pfizer’s vaccine to nearly 150 distribution centers across the states, said Army Gen. Gustave Perna of Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration’s vaccine development program. An additional 425 sites will get shipments Tuesday, and the remaining 66 on Wednesday.

Initially, about 3 million doses were expected to be shipped nationwide. It was unclear exactly who would receive the first shots, though health care workers and nursing home residents were the priority. Perna said health authorities would decide.

A similar number of shots will be held back for those recipients’ second dose, which is needed for full protection from COVID-19.

The announcement Saturday kicks off a massive logistical operation involving the federal and state governments, private companies and health care workers to quickly distribute limited vaccine supplies throughout the U.S. It offers hope in a country grappling with surging COVID-19 infections and deaths, which are overwhelming hospitals and raising fears that things will only get worse as people gather over the holidays.

Perna compared the vaccine distribution effort to D-Day, the U.S.-led military offensive that turned the tide in World War II.

“D-Day was the beginning of the end and that’s where we are today,” Perna said a news conference. But he added that it would take months of work and “diligence, courage and strength to eventually achieve victory.”

MaineHealth, a network of 12 hospitals based in Portland, plans to provide an expected first delivery of nearly 2,000 vaccines to doctors, nurses and others facing risk as they treat COVID-19 patients, said Dr. Dora Mills, chief health improvement officer.

“It’s almost hard for me to talk about without tearing up,” Mills said Saturday. “This vaccine gives us some glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.”

The first shipments will leave Pfizer’s manufacturing plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, by truck and then be flown to regional hubs around the country. Medical distributor McKesson and pharmacy chains, including CVS and Rite-Aid, also are involved in the initial rollout and vaccinations at nursing homes and assisted living centers.

In a key distribution challenge, the vaccine, co-developed with BioNTech, must be stored and shipped at ultra-low temperatures — about 94 degrees below zero. Pfizer has developed shipping containers that use dry ice, and GPS-enabled sensors will allow the company to track each shipment and ensure it stays cold.

Distribution sites are mainly large hospitals and other facilities able to meet those ultra-cold storage requirements. Within three weeks, vaccines should be delivered to all vaccination sites identified by states, such as local pharmacies, Perna said.

The vaccine was timed to arrive Monday so health workers could receive the shots and begin giving them, Perna said.

Workers at Mount Sinai Hospital System in New York did a dry run this week to prepare for their shipment. In a clean room, pharmacists practiced making separate doses of a training vaccine and ensuring the freezer was kept at temperatures colder than in Antarctica.

“Not a lot of people have vaccinated for a large pandemic like this,” said Susan Mashni, vice president of pharmacy at Mount Sinai. “So we want to make certain that we get it right. There’s a lot of different moving pieces and parts.”

At a meeting where an expert panel advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines unanimously endorsed the Pfizer shot, some said local health officials were struggling to ensure the vaccine is distributed fairly and to those most in need and to ease people’s concerns about getting the shot.

But “the funding necessary for state and local health departments to carry out this program has been put in the deep freeze,” said Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, a Seattle physician representing the National Association of County and City Health Officials.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine late Friday. It capped an unprecedented global race to speed vaccines through testing and review, chopping years off the normal development process.

The FDA found the vaccine highly protective with no major safety issues. U.S. regulators worked for months to emphasize the rigor and independence of their review, but President Donald Trump’s administration pressured the agency until the final announcement. A top White House official even threatened to remove FDA chief Stephen Hahn if a ruling didn’t come before Saturday.

Concerns that a shot was rushed out could undermine vaccination efforts in a country with deeply ingrained skepticism about vaccines.

“Science and data guided the FDA’s decision,” Hahn said Saturday. “We worked quickly because of the urgency of this pandemic, not because of any other external pressure.”

While the vaccine was determined to be safe, regulators in the U.K. are investigating several severe allergic reactions. The FDA’s instructions tell providers not give it to those with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any of its ingredients.

The FDA’s vaccine director, Dr. Peter Marks, said the agency will carefully track any reports of allergic reactions in the U.S.

Next week, the FDA will review a vaccine from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health that appears about as protective as Pfizer’s shot. On Friday, the Trump administration said it had purchased 100 million more doses of that vaccine on top of 100 million it previously ordered.

The announcement came after revelations that the White House opted not to lock in an additional 100 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine for delivery in the second quarter of 2021. The Trump administration contends the current orders plus those in the pipeline will be enough to accommodate any American who wants to be vaccinated by the end of the second quarter of 2021.

First COVID-19 vaccine doses arrive at sites across the U.S.

Geary Community Hospital officials reported on Friday that there were nine positive COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment at GCH. That number was down two from the day before.

There were ten positive COVID-19 tests at GCH on Friday and 20 tests were pending. There were also 50 negative tests, meaning they were not positive COVID-19.

Geary Community Hospital officials reported on Friday that there were nine positive COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment at GCH. That number was down two from the day before.There were ten positive COVID-19 tests at GCH on Friday and 20 tests were pending. There were also 50 negative tests, meaning they were not positive COVID-19.

Geary Community Hospital Friday COVID-19 report

By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/second-1000-coronavirus-deaths-kansas-came-5-times-faster-first-1000">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA, Kansas — The number of Kansans who have died from COVID-19 topped 2,000 on Friday.

How
 quickly the state passed that milestone — it took the state seven-plus 
months to lose its first 1,000 people to the coronavirus, and little 
more than a month to lose 1,000 more — shows how quickly the spread is 
accelerating.

“There’s just so many more people getting COVID 
right now that inevitably that’s going to lead to more death,” said 
Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health 
System.

The number of people who die after contracting the 
disease has remained relatively stable at about 1.9% in the U.S. and 
about 1% in Kansas.

But the rapid increase in the number of new 
deaths mirrors the increases in new cases. In the past two weeks, the 
state has averaged nearly 2,500 new cases a day.

In Kansas, it 
took about six months to go from the first death, to 500 deaths. The 
next 500 took only six weeks. The 500 after that, four weeks. And the 
most recent 500, to get the state over 2,000, took about two and a half 
weeks.

● 1 to 500 - 6 months (3/18/20 to 9/11/20) ● 500 to 1,000 - 6 weeks (9/11/20 to 10/28/20) ● 1,000 to 1,500 - 4 weeks (10/28/20 to 11/25/20) ● 1,500 to 2,000 - 2.5 weeks (11/25/20 to 12/11/20)

The
 rapid rise takes a toll on doctors and nurses in intensive care units 
who have to watch their patients die, while dealing with grieving family
 members.

“It has been palpably more difficult over the last 
month, and even couple of weeks,” said Lewis Satterwhite, a critical 
care physician at the KU Health System hospital.&nbsp;

So far, the 
youngest person to die of COVID in Kansas is 18. But young people dying 
from the disease remains rare. Of the coronavirus deaths in Kansas, 
94.4% have come among people 55 or older. The median age is 80.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-02/its-becoming-increasingly-hard-to-find-a-nursing-home-in-kansas-where-coronavirus-hasnt-shown-up" target="_blank">Nursing homes remain hot spots</a>.
 Two-thirds of all facilities in the state have had confirmed cases. And
 dozens still have to wait up to a week to receive test results from 
backlogged labs.

Deaths are pretty evenly split between male and 
female, but have hit Black people particularly hard, with a death rate 
of 61.47 per 100,000 people.

Physicians fear that the number of 
daily deaths hasn’t quite peaked yet. Deaths usually lag four to six 
weeks behind spikes in cases.

Almost every Kansas county has a 
percent positive testing rate greater than 10%, a sign of uncontrolled, 
widespread community transmission.

U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services regional administrator Catherine Satterwhite said 
reducing the spread of the virus is still the best way to reduce the 
number of deaths.

“It’s really important to know,” she said, “that this is not inevitable.”

Brian
 Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for 
KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on 
Twitter @briangrimmett or email him at grimmett@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607710594610.png" alt="The number of COVID-19 deaths by day in Kansas. Kansas Department of Health and Environment" />
 <figcaption>The number of COVID-19 deaths by day in Kansas. Kansas Department of Health and Environment</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/second-1000-coronavirus-deaths-kansas-came-5-times-faster-first-1000">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA, Kansas — The number of Kansans who have died from COVID-19 topped 2,000 on Friday.How
 quickly the state passed that milestone — it took the state seven-plus 
months to lose its first 1,000 people to the coronavirus, and little 
more than a month to lose 1,000 more — shows how quickly the spread is 
accelerating.“There’s just so many more people getting COVID 
right now that inevitably that’s going to lead to more death,” said 
Steve Stites, chief medical officer at the University of Kansas Health 
System.The number of people who die after contracting the 
disease has remained relatively stable at about 1.9% in the U.S. and 
about 1% in Kansas.But the rapid increase in the number of new 
deaths mirrors the increases in new cases. In the past two weeks, the 
state has averaged nearly 2,500 new cases a day.In Kansas, it 
took about six months to go from the first death, to 500 deaths. The 
next 500 took only six weeks. The 500 after that, four weeks. And the 
most recent 500, to get the state over 2,000, took about two and a half 
weeks.● 1 to 500 - 6 months (3/18/20 to 9/11/20) ● 500 to 1,000 - 6 weeks (9/11/20 to 10/28/20) ● 1,000 to 1,500 - 4 weeks (10/28/20 to 11/25/20) ● 1,500 to 2,000 - 2.5 weeks (11/25/20 to 12/11/20)The
 rapid rise takes a toll on doctors and nurses in intensive care units 
who have to watch their patients die, while dealing with grieving family
 members.“It has been palpably more difficult over the last 
month, and even couple of weeks,” said Lewis Satterwhite, a critical 
care physician at the KU Health System hospital.&nbsp;So far, the 
youngest person to die of COVID in Kansas is 18. But young people dying 
from the disease remains rare. Of the coronavirus deaths in Kansas, 
94.4% have come among people 55 or older. The median age is 80.<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2020-12-02/its-becoming-increasingly-hard-to-find-a-nursing-home-in-kansas-where-coronavirus-hasnt-shown-up" target="_blank">Nursing homes remain hot spots</a>.
 Two-thirds of all facilities in the state have had confirmed cases. And
 dozens still have to wait up to a week to receive test results from 
backlogged labs.Deaths are pretty evenly split between male and 
female, but have hit Black people particularly hard, with a death rate 
of 61.47 per 100,000 people.Physicians fear that the number of 
daily deaths hasn’t quite peaked yet. Deaths usually lag four to six 
weeks behind spikes in cases.Almost every Kansas county has a 
percent positive testing rate greater than 10%, a sign of uncontrolled, 
widespread community transmission.U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services regional administrator Catherine Satterwhite said 
reducing the spread of the virus is still the best way to reduce the 
number of deaths.“It’s really important to know,” she said, “that this is not inevitable.”Brian
 Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and natural resources for 
KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on 
Twitter @briangrimmett or email him at grimmett@kmuw.org.

Second 1,000 virus deaths in Kan. came 5 times faster than first 1,000 

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — Pottawatomie County released a community update on COVID-19 numbers Friday.&nbsp;

The update included 23 new positive cases confirmed by the KDHE and 25 confirmed by the Pottawatomie County Health department. There are currently 75 active cases, a decrease in one since the last report.&nbsp;

There have also been 26 additional recoveries since the last report. While there are four cases currently pending. Pending cases are awaiting a confirmed positive test.&nbsp;

Currently in Pottawatomie County, there are seven COID-related hospitalizations, up two from the last report.&nbsp;

WESTMORELAND, Kan. — Pottawatomie County released a community update on COVID-19 numbers Friday.&nbsp;The update included 23 new positive cases confirmed by the KDHE and 25 confirmed by the Pottawatomie County Health department. There are currently 75 active cases, a decrease in one since the last report.&nbsp;There have also been 26 additional recoveries since the last report. While there are four cases currently pending. Pending cases are awaiting a confirmed positive test.&nbsp;Currently in Pottawatomie County, there are seven COID-related hospitalizations, up two from the last report.&nbsp;

Pottawatomie County Community Update

Via Gary Berges, Geary County Emergency Services

Geary County is reporting a COVID 19 related death. This involves a 60 year old male, who had been a patient at Geary Community Hospital in the I.C.U. area. This is the sixth person who has died in Geary County related to COVID 19.

This is the only information that will be released by the Emergency Operations Center concerning the death.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of the individual and our condolences go out to the family and friends.

A total of 11 COVID patients are currently being treated at Geary Community Hospital with 3 in the ICU area.

As the COVID numbers continue to dramatically increase across Kansas, Geary County authorities strongly encourage everyone to wear masks when in public, do social distancing, and conduct frequent handwashing. With the holiday season fast approaching, please limit your contact with anyone outside of your immediate family whom you reside with.

Via Gary Berges, Geary County Emergency ServicesGeary County is reporting a COVID 19 related death. This involves a 60 year old male, who had been a patient at Geary Community Hospital in the I.C.U. area. This is the sixth person who has died in Geary County related to COVID 19.This is the only information that will be released by the Emergency Operations Center concerning the death.We are saddened to hear of the passing of the individual and our condolences go out to the family and friends.A total of 11 COVID patients are currently being treated at Geary Community Hospital with 3 in the ICU area.As the COVID numbers continue to dramatically increase across Kansas, Geary County authorities strongly encourage everyone to wear masks when in public, do social distancing, and conduct frequent handwashing. With the holiday season fast approaching, please limit your contact with anyone outside of your immediate family whom you reside with.

Geary County Reports Sixth Covid-Related Death

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. government advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Thursday, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?507053-2/fda-advisory-committee-votes-recommend-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine">CLICK here t</a>o watch Thursday's discussion on the vaccine.

Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert committee’s recommendation.

In a 17-4 vote with one abstention, the government advisers concluded that the vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech appears safe and effective for emergency use in adults and teenagers 16 and older.

That endorsement came despite questions about allergic reactions in two people who received the vaccine earlier this week when Britain became the first country to begin dispensing the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.

Despite all the remaining unknowns, in an emergency, “the question is whether you know enough,” said panel member Dr. Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who concluded that the shot’s potential potential benefits outweigh its risks.

The independent review by non-government experts in vaccine development, infectious diseases and medical statistics was considered critical to boosting Americans’ confidence in the safety of the shot, which was developed at breakneck speed less than a year after the virus was identified.

The decision came as COVID-19 cases surge to ever-higher levels across the U.S., with deaths hitting an all-time, one-day high of more than 3,100 on Wednesday.

Pfizer has said it will have about 25 million doses of the two-shot vaccine for the U.S. by the end of December. But initial supplies will be limited and reserved primarily for health care workers and nursing home residents, with other vulnerable groups next in line until the shots become widely available on demand, something that will probably not happen until the spring.

Experts estimate at least 70% of the U.S. population will have to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, the point at which the virus can be held in check. That means it could be several months before things start get back to normal and Americans can put away their masks.

The FDA next week will review a second vaccine, from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, that appears about as protective as Pfizer-BioNTech’s shot. A third candidate, from Johnson &amp; Johnson, which would require just one dose, is working its way through the pipeline. Behind that is a candidate from AstraZeneca and Oxford University

All eyes now turn to the FDA staff scientists who will make the final decision on whether to greenlight use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Regulators not only in Britain but in Canada have already approved it for use in their countries, and President Donald Trump and White House officials have complained for weeks about the pace of FDA’s careful review.

FDA’s vaccine director Dr. Peter Marks said ahead of the expert meeting that a decision would come within “days to a week.”

“Americans want us to do a scientific review, but I think they also want us to make sure we’re not wasting time on paperwork as opposed to going forward with the decision,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said before the meeting.

A positive vote for the vaccine was virtually assured after FDA scientists issued a glowing review of the vaccine earlier in the week. Agency staffers said data from Pfizer’s ongoing study of 44,000 people showed strong protection across different age groups, races and health conditions with no major, unexpected safety problems.

The Pfizer-BioNTech shot remains experimental because that final-stage study isn’t complete. As a result, the expert panel wrestled with a list of questions that have yet to be answered.

For example, while the vaccine is more than 90% effective in blocking the symptoms of COVID-19, the FDA’s advisers stressed it is not yet clear if it can stop the silent, symptomless spread that accounts for up to half of cases.

“Even though the individual efficacy of this vaccine is very, very, very high, you really as of right now do not have any evidence” that it will lower transmission, said Dr. Patrick Moore of the University of Pittsburgh. He urged Pfizer to take additional steps to answer that question.

And the advisers are worried that Pfizer will lose its opportunity to answer critical questions as it begins offering the real vaccine to study participants who had been getting dummy shots.

The company proposed gradually moving those patients to the vaccine group, with priority based on age, health conditions and other factors. Under that plan, 70-year-old participants would cross over before healthy 30-year-olds.

Pfizer must still show whether the vaccine works in children younger than 16 and in pregnant women.

On the safety front, as widespread vaccinations begin, the first recipients will be closely tracked by government health authorities since studies in tens of thousands of people can’t detect rare risks that strike 1 in a million. Hanging over the meeting were the British allergic reactions and a warning from authorities there that people with a history of serious reactions shouldn’t get the vaccine for now.

Pfizer representatives said they have seen no signs of allergic reactions in their trial. But some of the FDA advisers fear the British warning will deter millions of Americans with allergies who might benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine from giving it a try, and urged additional studies to try to settle the issue.

“This issue is not going to die until we have better data,” Offit said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607640634805.png" alt="Virtual FDA panel discussion Thursday image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Virtual FDA panel discussion Thursday image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. government advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Thursday, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?507053-2/fda-advisory-committee-votes-recommend-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine">CLICK here t</a>o watch Thursday's discussion on the vaccine.Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert committee’s recommendation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1607648760719.png" alt="Zoom vote Thursday afternoon on the vaccine" />
 <figcaption>Zoom vote Thursday afternoon on the vaccine</figcaption>
 </figure>In a 17-4 vote with one abstention, the government advisers concluded that the vaccine from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech appears safe and effective for emergency use in adults and teenagers 16 and older.That endorsement came despite questions about allergic reactions in two people who received the vaccine earlier this week when Britain became the first country to begin dispensing the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.Despite all the remaining unknowns, in an emergency, “the question is whether you know enough,” said panel member Dr. Paul Offit of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who concluded that the shot’s potential potential benefits outweigh its risks.The independent review by non-government experts in vaccine development, infectious diseases and medical statistics was considered critical to boosting Americans’ confidence in the safety of the shot, which was developed at breakneck speed less than a year after the virus was identified.The decision came as COVID-19 cases surge to ever-higher levels across the U.S., with deaths hitting an all-time, one-day high of more than 3,100 on Wednesday.Pfizer has said it will have about 25 million doses of the two-shot vaccine for the U.S. by the end of December. But initial supplies will be limited and reserved primarily for health care workers and nursing home residents, with other vulnerable groups next in line until the shots become widely available on demand, something that will probably not happen until the spring.Experts estimate at least 70% of the U.S. population will have to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, the point at which the virus can be held in check. That means it could be several months before things start get back to normal and Americans can put away their masks.The FDA next week will review a second vaccine, from Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, that appears about as protective as Pfizer-BioNTech’s shot. A third candidate, from Johnson &amp; Johnson, which would require just one dose, is working its way through the pipeline. Behind that is a candidate from AstraZeneca and Oxford UniversityAll eyes now turn to the FDA staff scientists who will make the final decision on whether to greenlight use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Regulators not only in Britain but in Canada have already approved it for use in their countries, and President Donald Trump and White House officials have complained for weeks about the pace of FDA’s careful review.FDA’s vaccine director Dr. Peter Marks said ahead of the expert meeting that a decision would come within “days to a week.”“Americans want us to do a scientific review, but I think they also want us to make sure we’re not wasting time on paperwork as opposed to going forward with the decision,” FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said before the meeting.A positive vote for the vaccine was virtually assured after FDA scientists issued a glowing review of the vaccine earlier in the week. Agency staffers said data from Pfizer’s ongoing study of 44,000 people showed strong protection across different age groups, races and health conditions with no major, unexpected safety problems.The Pfizer-BioNTech shot remains experimental because that final-stage study isn’t complete. As a result, the expert panel wrestled with a list of questions that have yet to be answered.For example, while the vaccine is more than 90% effective in blocking the symptoms of COVID-19, the FDA’s advisers stressed it is not yet clear if it can stop the silent, symptomless spread that accounts for up to half of cases.“Even though the individual efficacy of this vaccine is very, very, very high, you really as of right now do not have any evidence” that it will lower transmission, said Dr. Patrick Moore of the University of Pittsburgh. He urged Pfizer to take additional steps to answer that question.And the advisers are worried that Pfizer will lose its opportunity to answer critical questions as it begins offering the real vaccine to study participants who had been getting dummy shots.The company proposed gradually moving those patients to the vaccine group, with priority based on age, health conditions and other factors. Under that plan, 70-year-old participants would cross over before healthy 30-year-olds.Pfizer must still show whether the vaccine works in children younger than 16 and in pregnant women.On the safety front, as widespread vaccinations begin, the first recipients will be closely tracked by government health authorities since studies in tens of thousands of people can’t detect rare risks that strike 1 in a million. Hanging over the meeting were the British allergic reactions and a warning from authorities there that people with a history of serious reactions shouldn’t get the vaccine for now.Pfizer representatives said they have seen no signs of allergic reactions in their trial. But some of the FDA advisers fear the British warning will deter millions of Americans with allergies who might benefit from the COVID-19 vaccine from giving it a try, and urged additional studies to try to settle the issue.“This issue is not going to die until we have better data,” Offit said.

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