WASHINGTON (AP) —Public health experts blamed COVID-19 vaccine shortages around the U.S. in part on the Trump administration’s push to get states to vastly expand their vaccination drives to reach the nation’s estimated 54 million people age 65 and over.

The push that began over a week ago has not been accompanied by enough doses to meet demand, according to state and local officials, leading to frustration and confusion and limiting states’ ability to attack the outbreak that has killed over 400,000 Americans.

Over the past few days, authorities in California, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida and Hawaii warned that their supplies were running out. New York City began canceling or postponing shots or stopped making new appointments because of the shortages, which President Joe Biden has vowed to turn around. Florida’s top health official said the state would deal with the scarcity by restricting vaccines to state residents.

The vaccine rollout so far has been “a major disappointment,” said Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute.

Problems started with the Trump administration’s “fatal mistake” of not ordering enough vaccine, which was then snapped up by other countries, Topol said. Then, opening the line to senior citizens set people up for disappointment because there wasn’t enough vaccine, he said. The Trump administration also left crucial planning to the states and didn’t provide the necessary funding.

“It doesn’t happen by fairy dust,” Topol said. “You need to put funds into that.”

Last week, before Biden took over as president, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department suggested that the frustration was the result of unrealistic expectations among the states as to how much vaccine was on the way.

But some public health experts said that the states have not been getting reliable information on vaccine deliveries and that the amounts they have been sent have been unpredictable. That, in turn, has made it difficult for them to plan how to inoculate people.

“It’s a bit of having to build it as we go,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco. “It’s a front-end supply issue, and unless we know how much vaccine is flowing down the pipe, it’s hard to get these things sized right, staffed, get people there, get them vaccinated and get them gone.”

State health secretaries have asked the Biden administration for earlier and more reliable predictions on vaccine deliveries, said Washington state Health Secretary Dr. Umair Shah.

Dr. Marcus Plescia of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials was also among those who said opening vaccinations to senior citizens was done too soon, before supply could catch up.

“We needed steady federal leadership on this early in the launch,” Plescia said. “That did not happen, and now that we are not prioritizing groups, there is going to be some lag for supply to catch up with demand.”

Supply will pick up over the next few weeks, he said. Deliveries go out to the states every week, and the government and drugmakers have given assurances large quantities are in the pipeline.

The rollout has proceeded at a disappointing pace. The U.S. government has delivered nearly 38 million doses of vaccine to the states, and about 17.5 million of those have been administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 2.4 million people have received the necessary two doses, by the CDC’s count — well short of the hundreds of millions who will have to be inoculated to vanquish the outbreak.

Biden, in one of his first orders of business, signed 10 executive orders to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday, including one broadening the use of the Defense Production Act to expand vaccine production. The 1950 Korean War-era law enables the government to direct the manufacture of critical goods.

He also mandated masks for travel, including in airports and on planes, ships, trains, buses and public transportation, and ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up vaccination centers and the CDC to make vaccines available through pharmacies starting next month.

Biden has vowed to dispense 100 million shots in his first 100 days.

“We’ll move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated for free,” he said.

Florida was one of the first states to open vaccine eligibility to members of the general public over 65. Now uncertainty over the vaccine supply has prompted the state surgeon general, Scott Rivkees, to advise counties to prioritize available doses for state residents, including so-called snowbirds who live there part-time. People seeking vaccination will have to provide a driver’s license or other document, such as rental leases and utility bills.

In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have been pleading for more doses. Appointments through Sunday for the first dose of the vaccine at 15 community vaccination hubs set up by the city health department were postponed to next week.

Vaccinations in New York haven’t stopped, but demand for the shots now far exceeds the number of doses available, the mayor said.

“It’s just tremendously sad that we have so many people who want the vaccine and so much ability to give the vaccine, what’s happening?” de Blasio said. “For lack of supply, we’re actually having to cancel appointments.”

Rosa Schneider had jumped at the chance to make a vaccination appointment once she heard that educators like her were eligible in New York. A high school English teacher who lives in New York City but works in New Jersey, she said that a day before she was to be vaccinated on Wednesday at a city-run hospital, she got a call saying the supply had run out and the appointment was canceled.

“I was concerned, and I was upset,” said Schneider, 32, but she is trying daily to book another appointment. She is hopeful availability will improve in the coming weeks.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Public health experts blamed COVID-19 vaccine shortages around the U.S. in part on the Trump administration’s push to get states to vastly expand their vaccination drives to reach the nation’s estimated 54 million people age 65 and over.The push that began over a week ago has not been accompanied by enough doses to meet demand, according to state and local officials, leading to frustration and confusion and limiting states’ ability to attack the outbreak that has killed over 400,000 Americans.Over the past few days, authorities in California, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida and Hawaii warned that their supplies were running out. New York City began canceling or postponing shots or stopped making new appointments because of the shortages, which President Joe Biden has vowed to turn around. Florida’s top health official said the state would deal with the scarcity by restricting vaccines to state residents.The vaccine rollout so far has been “a major disappointment,” said Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute.Problems started with the Trump administration’s “fatal mistake” of not ordering enough vaccine, which was then snapped up by other countries, Topol said. Then, opening the line to senior citizens set people up for disappointment because there wasn’t enough vaccine, he said. The Trump administration also left crucial planning to the states and didn’t provide the necessary funding.“It doesn’t happen by fairy dust,” Topol said. “You need to put funds into that.”Last week, before Biden took over as president, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department suggested that the frustration was the result of unrealistic expectations among the states as to how much vaccine was on the way.But some public health experts said that the states have not been getting reliable information on vaccine deliveries and that the amounts they have been sent have been unpredictable. That, in turn, has made it difficult for them to plan how to inoculate people.“It’s a bit of having to build it as we go,” said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco. “It’s a front-end supply issue, and unless we know how much vaccine is flowing down the pipe, it’s hard to get these things sized right, staffed, get people there, get them vaccinated and get them gone.”State health secretaries have asked the Biden administration for earlier and more reliable predictions on vaccine deliveries, said Washington state Health Secretary Dr. Umair Shah.Dr. Marcus Plescia of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials was also among those who said opening vaccinations to senior citizens was done too soon, before supply could catch up.“We needed steady federal leadership on this early in the launch,” Plescia said. “That did not happen, and now that we are not prioritizing groups, there is going to be some lag for supply to catch up with demand.”Supply will pick up over the next few weeks, he said. Deliveries go out to the states every week, and the government and drugmakers have given assurances large quantities are in the pipeline.The rollout has proceeded at a disappointing pace. The U.S. government has delivered nearly 38 million doses of vaccine to the states, and about 17.5 million of those have been administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About 2.4 million people have received the necessary two doses, by the CDC’s count — well short of the hundreds of millions who will have to be inoculated to vanquish the outbreak.Biden, in one of his first orders of business, signed 10 executive orders to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday, including one broadening the use of the Defense Production Act to expand vaccine production. The 1950 Korean War-era law enables the government to direct the manufacture of critical goods.He also mandated masks for travel, including in airports and on planes, ships, trains, buses and public transportation, and ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up vaccination centers and the CDC to make vaccines available through pharmacies starting next month.Biden has vowed to dispense 100 million shots in his first 100 days.“We’ll move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated for free,” he said.Florida was one of the first states to open vaccine eligibility to members of the general public over 65. Now uncertainty over the vaccine supply has prompted the state surgeon general, Scott Rivkees, to advise counties to prioritize available doses for state residents, including so-called snowbirds who live there part-time. People seeking vaccination will have to provide a driver’s license or other document, such as rental leases and utility bills.In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have been pleading for more doses. Appointments through Sunday for the first dose of the vaccine at 15 community vaccination hubs set up by the city health department were postponed to next week.Vaccinations in New York haven’t stopped, but demand for the shots now far exceeds the number of doses available, the mayor said.“It’s just tremendously sad that we have so many people who want the vaccine and so much ability to give the vaccine, what’s happening?” de Blasio said. “For lack of supply, we’re actually having to cancel appointments.”Rosa Schneider had jumped at the chance to make a vaccination appointment once she heard that educators like her were eligible in New York. A high school English teacher who lives in New York City but works in New Jersey, she said that a day before she was to be vaccinated on Wednesday at a city-run hospital, she got a call saying the supply had run out and the appointment was canceled.“I was concerned, and I was upset,” said Schneider, 32, but she is trying daily to book another appointment. She is hopeful availability will improve in the coming weeks.

Health experts blame rapid expansion for vaccine shortages

Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges announced on Friday that the Health Department has begun receiving limited amounts of COVID-19 vaccine. A planning team met Friday to prioritize those eligible in Phase Two wishing to receive the vaccine. Only 300 doses were received in Geary County for phase two.

As we begin to move into Phase 2 of vaccine prioritization, we have begun working with local organizations categorized by the state as high-contact Critical Workers. This category includes law enforcement, firefighters, Community Corrections, USD 475 employees, as well as reaching out to people over 65 who have called to be put on the list or have signed up on our website to receive the vaccine.

We are receiving the Moderna vaccine, which comes in 10 dose vials. Once this vaccine is thawed and we begin using a vial, we must use all ten doses within six hours. For this reason, we are scheduling people to ensure we use all the vaccines to prevent any from going to waste. We have reached out to people who meet the Phase 2 criteria so we can meet the requirements to ensure the use of all vaccines. We have begun a back-up list of people who can respond at a moment’s notice to receive the vaccine in the event someone doesn’t show up, or we get more than ten doses out of a vial.

We know that everyone is eager to receive the vaccine, and we are working to ensure that everyone has a chance to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. Once the county begins receiving more than a couple hundred doses a week, we will begin the next phase of opening up vaccination for larger groups in a location that can accommodate several hundred people at a time. Planning continues for potential mass vaccination locations, should we receive the amount of vaccine that is needed for Geary County.

To sign up to receive the vaccine go to the Geary County Health Department Facebook page or the Geary County website&nbsp;www.gearycounty.org under the COVID 19 page.

Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges announced on Friday that the Health Department has begun receiving limited amounts of COVID-19 vaccine. A planning team met Friday to prioritize those eligible in Phase Two wishing to receive the vaccine. Only 300 doses were received in Geary County for phase two.Berges stated, "As we begin to move into Phase 2 of vaccine prioritization, we have begun working with local organizations categorized by the state as high-contact Critical Workers. This category includes law enforcement, firefighters, Community Corrections, USD 475 employees, as well as reaching out to people over 65 who have called to be put on the list or have signed up on our website to receive the vaccine.We are receiving the Moderna vaccine, which comes in 10 dose vials. Once this vaccine is thawed and we begin using a vial, we must use all ten doses within six hours. For this reason, we are scheduling people to ensure we use all the vaccines to prevent any from going to waste. We have reached out to people who meet the Phase 2 criteria so we can meet the requirements to ensure the use of all vaccines. We have begun a back-up list of people who can respond at a moment’s notice to receive the vaccine in the event someone doesn’t show up, or we get more than ten doses out of a vial.We know that everyone is eager to receive the vaccine, and we are working to ensure that everyone has a chance to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. Once the county begins receiving more than a couple hundred doses a week, we will begin the next phase of opening up vaccination for larger groups in a location that can accommodate several hundred people at a time. Planning continues for potential mass vaccination locations, should we receive the amount of vaccine that is needed for Geary County.To sign up to receive the vaccine go to the Geary County Health Department Facebook page or the Geary County website&nbsp;www.gearycounty.org under the COVID 19 page.

Health Department receives limited amounts of COVID-19 vaccine

The men of Lyona United Methodist Church will celebrate their 77th annual Ground Hog Meal on Saturday, Feb. 6th at the church 14 miles southwest of Junction City on Lyons Creek / Wolf Road. Serving will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. but it will be different this year due to COVID-19. The meals will be carry out only.

Reservations are not required. Enter the drive-thru line at the south driveway entrance. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under.

Lyona Church was organized April 10, 1859, with 31 charter members and is recognized as the oldest church in Kansas of any denomination west of Manhattan.&nbsp; The first Ground Hog Supper was organized in 1945 by Reverend Cecil Zeigler for the men of the church as a social gathering for their many friends in the surrounding towns and communities.

Honey flavored whole wheat waffles, made with locally grown, stone-ground grain, and golden brown pancakes will be served.

The men on the sausage making committee, led by John Poland, will be grinding, seasoning, and cooking 1,200 pounds of sausage, and both smoked link and seasoned patty sausage will be served.&nbsp; Packaged sausage (both kinds) for home use will be available at the church on the day of the supper.&nbsp; Plain sausage is $3.50 per pound.&nbsp; Smoked link sausage is $4.50 per pound.&nbsp; 

To reserve sausage, contact the church by phone at 785-257-3474 or email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lwumcs@gmail.com" target="_blank">lwumcs@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp; Please leave your name, contact information, and how many pounds and what kind(s) you want. Honey flavored whole wheat waffles, made with locally grown, stone-ground grain, and golden brown pancakes will be served.

The ice cream committee, chaired by Darrin Volkman, will be cranking up the big freezers, along with many smaller ones, to handle the many requests for their delicious homemade ice cream, more than 40 gallons in all.

The men of Lyona United Methodist Church will celebrate their 77th annual Ground Hog Meal on Saturday, Feb. 6th at the church 14 miles southwest of Junction City on Lyons Creek / Wolf Road. Serving will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. but it will be different this year due to COVID-19. The meals will be carry out only.Reservations are not required. Enter the drive-thru line at the south driveway entrance. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under.Lyona Church was organized April 10, 1859, with 31 charter members and is recognized as the oldest church in Kansas of any denomination west of Manhattan.&nbsp; The first Ground Hog Supper was organized in 1945 by Reverend Cecil Zeigler for the men of the church as a social gathering for their many friends in the surrounding towns and communities.Honey flavored whole wheat waffles, made with locally grown, stone-ground grain, and golden brown pancakes will be served.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611270665339.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The men on the sausage making committee, led by John Poland, will be grinding, seasoning, and cooking 1,200 pounds of sausage, and both smoked link and seasoned patty sausage will be served.&nbsp; Packaged sausage (both kinds) for home use will be available at the church on the day of the supper.&nbsp; Plain sausage is $3.50 per pound.&nbsp; Smoked link sausage is $4.50 per pound.&nbsp; To reserve sausage, contact the church by phone at 785-257-3474 or email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lwumcs@gmail.com" target="_blank">lwumcs@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp; Please leave your name, contact information, and how many pounds and what kind(s) you want. Honey flavored whole wheat waffles, made with locally grown, stone-ground grain, and golden brown pancakes will be served.The ice cream committee, chaired by Darrin Volkman, will be cranking up the big freezers, along with many smaller ones, to handle the many requests for their delicious homemade ice cream, more than 40 gallons in all.

 Ground Hog Meal will be a drive-thru event

Army officials said Thursday that Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley is offering COVID-19 vaccine to eligible beneficiaries ages 75 and older starting Monday, Jan. 25. Beneficiaries will be contacted by hospital staff to schedule an appointment for those interested. As supply becomes available, IACH will offer vaccine to a broader beneficiary age group, consistent with Department of Defense schema.

The Moderna vaccine is administered as a series of two doses 1 month apart. Individuals who opt for the vaccine must be willing to return within the indicated time to get their second dose. Vaccines are administered at the tension fabric structure between the legacy and new hospitals.

IACH is dedicated to providing the latest available information about the vaccines as it is released, including the benefits and risks of a vaccine so that individuals can make an informed decision.

All DoD personnel who get a vaccine will continue to wear appropriate masks, practice physical distancing, wash hands, and follow restriction of movement to protect our safety as a large portion of the population will need to be vaccinated before COVID-19 risks diminish.

Army officials said Thursday that Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley is offering COVID-19 vaccine to eligible beneficiaries ages 75 and older starting Monday, Jan. 25. Beneficiaries will be contacted by hospital staff to schedule an appointment for those interested. As supply becomes available, IACH will offer vaccine to a broader beneficiary age group, consistent with Department of Defense schema.The Moderna vaccine is administered as a series of two doses 1 month apart. Individuals who opt for the vaccine must be willing to return within the indicated time to get their second dose. Vaccines are administered at the tension fabric structure between the legacy and new hospitals.IACH is dedicated to providing the latest available information about the vaccines as it is released, including the benefits and risks of a vaccine so that individuals can make an informed decision.All DoD personnel who get a vaccine will continue to wear appropriate masks, practice physical distancing, wash hands, and follow restriction of movement to protect our safety as a large portion of the population will need to be vaccinated before COVID-19 risks diminish.

Military beneficiaries 75 and over will be able to get COVID-19 vaccine at Irwin Army Community Hospital

It is too soon for final decisions on Sundown Salute in 2021 but CVB Director Michelle Stimatze noted this week that the celebration in July may have to be limited. COVID-19 is the key factor.

Stimatze said that decisions have not yet been finalized at this point. "But we're looking like maybe not having a full blown Sundown Salute." Stimatze referred to possible events that could occur. "We're talking about maybe having a parade, the race - the Freedom Run and a car show. That might be the extent of it for this next year."Stimatze added that's just because of COVID.

The CVB has been coordinating the Sundown Salute celebration. Typically there are other activities ranging from vendors in the park to musical entertainment. "Well, we're probably not sure about music yet. We're just in the beginning stages of planning. It seems like COVID is going to take its course again this spring and it looks like maybe by fall time we'll have a little bit of ease on that but it's hard to make any decisions with the big events in our community."

The 2020 Fourth of July Sundown Salute celebration had to be&nbsp; cancelled due to COVID-19.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611245482173.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>It is too soon for final decisions on Sundown Salute in 2021 but CVB Director Michelle Stimatze noted this week that the celebration in July may have to be limited. COVID-19 is the key factor.Stimatze said that decisions have not yet been finalized at this point. "But we're looking like maybe not having a full blown Sundown Salute." Stimatze referred to possible events that could occur. "We're talking about maybe having a parade, the race - the Freedom Run and a car show. That might be the extent of it for this next year."Stimatze added that's just because of COVID.The CVB has been coordinating the Sundown Salute celebration. Typically there are other activities ranging from vendors in the park to musical entertainment. "Well, we're probably not sure about music yet. We're just in the beginning stages of planning. It seems like COVID is going to take its course again this spring and it looks like maybe by fall time we'll have a little bit of ease on that but it's hard to make any decisions with the big events in our community."The 2020 Fourth of July Sundown Salute celebration had to be&nbsp; cancelled due to COVID-19.&nbsp;

Sundown Salute may have to be scaled back in 2021

Geary County health department officials confirmed on Wednesday that there were seven new positive cases of COVID-19. There were no recoveries reported.

Two Geary County residents were hospitalized and there are now 150 active cases in the county.

Since the pandemic began there have been 1,372 confirmed positive cases and a 1,202 total of recovered cases.

Geary County health department officials confirmed on Wednesday that there were seven new positive cases of COVID-19. There were no recoveries reported.Two Geary County residents were hospitalized and there are now 150 active cases in the county.Since the pandemic began there have been 1,372 confirmed positive cases and a 1,202 total of recovered cases.

Health Department updates the COVID-19 numbers

Three people are hospitalized at Geary Community Hospital for COVID-19.&nbsp;

GCH officials reported on Wednesday that there were six new positive tests and five tests pending. There were 38 negative tests.

Three people are hospitalized at Geary Community Hospital for COVID-19.&nbsp;GCH officials reported on Wednesday that there were six new positive tests and five tests pending. There were 38 negative tests.

GCH provides daily COVID-19 update

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Riley County Health Department announced five additional COVID-19 related deaths in its most recent report.&nbsp;The individuals ranged in age from 46-85. No further details were released about the deceased. The five deaths brings the total for the pandemic to 28 within Riley County.&nbsp;

Additionally, RCHD announced 127 newly identified cased of COVID-19, with 306 recoveries since the last report on Friday.&nbsp;

There are currently 12 positive patients housed at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan, with one patient in the ICU.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 5.724 total positive cases in Riley County, with 361 active cases at the moment.&nbsp;

There have also been 5,335 total recovered cases in Riley County since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Riley County Health Department announced five additional COVID-19 related deaths in its most recent report.&nbsp;The individuals ranged in age from 46-85. No further details were released about the deceased. The five deaths brings the total for the pandemic to 28 within Riley County.&nbsp;Additionally, RCHD announced 127 newly identified cased of COVID-19, with 306 recoveries since the last report on Friday.&nbsp;There are currently 12 positive patients housed at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan, with one patient in the ICU.Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 5.724 total positive cases in Riley County, with 361 active cases at the moment.&nbsp;There have also been 5,335 total recovered cases in Riley County since the beginning of the pandemic.&nbsp;

RCHD announces 5 additional COVID-19 deaths

Geary County Emergency Management said Unfortunately, TourHealth will be closing the COVID-19&nbsp; testing site in Junction City on Wednesday immediately due to high winds.

UPDATE FOR January 20thGeary County Emergency Management said Unfortunately, TourHealth will be closing the COVID-19&nbsp; testing site in Junction City on Wednesday immediately due to high winds.

COVID-19 testing site closing for Wednesday

Geary County Health Department officials reported on Tuesday that there were 30 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the county. There were 27 recovered cases.

The total number of active cases has been calculated at 143 while one person is hospitalized at Geary Community Hospital.

Since the pandemic began there have been 1,365 confirmed positive cases and 1.202 recovered cases in the county.

Geary County Health Department officials reported on Tuesday that there were 30 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the county. There were 27 recovered cases.The total number of active cases has been calculated at 143 while one person is hospitalized at Geary Community Hospital.Since the pandemic began there have been 1,365 confirmed positive cases and 1.202 recovered cases in the county.

New cases of COVID-19 continue to be reported

Geary Community Hospital reported on Tuesday that one person was hospitalized with COVID-19. There were four positive tests and nine negative tests. Nine tests were pending.

Geary Community Hospital reported on Tuesday that one person was hospitalized with COVID-19. There were four positive tests and nine negative tests. Nine tests were pending.

Geary Community Hospital provides COVID-19 update

One patient is hospitalized at Geary Community Hospital for COVID-19. The hospital issued a social media post saying there were eight new positive tests since Friday and 59 negative tests.

One patient is hospitalized at Geary Community Hospital for COVID-19. The hospital issued a social media post saying there were eight new positive tests since Friday and 59 negative tests.

Hospital issues COVID-19 report for Monday

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s state epidemiologist is urging a halt to more than 300,000 coronavirus vaccinations using a Moderna vaccine version because some people received medical treatment for possible severe allergic reactions.

Dr. Erica S. Pan on Sunday recommended providers stop using lot 41L20A of the Moderna vaccine pending completion of an investigation by state officials, Moderna, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the federal Food and Drug Administration.

“Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory,” Pan said in a statement.

She said more than 330,000 doses from the lot arrived in California between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 and were distributed to 287 providers.

Fewer than 10 people, who all received the vaccine at the same community site, needed medical attention over a 24-hour period, Pan said. No other similar clusters were found.

Pan did not specify the number of cases involved or where they occurred.

However, six San Diego health care workers had allergic reactions to vaccines they received at a mass vaccination center on Jan. 14. The site was temporarily closed and is now using other vaccines, KTGV-TV reported.

Moderna in a statement said the company “is unaware of comparable adverse events from other vaccination centers which may have administered vaccines from the same lot.”

The CDC has said COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects for a few days that include fever, chills, headache, swelling or tiredness, “which are normal signs that your body is building protection.”

However, severe reactions are extremely rare. Pan said in a vaccine similar to Moderna, the rate of anaphylaxis — in which an immune system reaction can block breathing and cause blood pressure to drop — was about 1 in 100,000.

The announcement came as California counties continue to plead for more COVID-19 vaccine as the state tries to reduce its rate of infection, which has led to record numbers of hospitalizations and deaths.

California, with a population of 40 million, has shipped about about 3.2 million doses of the vaccine — which requires two doses for full immunization — to local health departments and health care systems, the state’s Department of Public Health reported Monday.

Only about 1.4 million of those doses, or around 40%, have been administered.

So far. the state has vaccinated fewer than 2,500 people per 100,000 residents, a rate that falls well below the national average, according to federal data.

Although Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that anyone age 65 and older would be eligible to start receiving the vaccine, Los Angeles County and some others have said they do not have enough doses to vaccinate so many people and are first concentrating on inoculating health care workers and the most vulnerable elderly living in care homes.

On Monday, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District sent a letter to state and county public health officials asking for authorization to provide COVID-19 vaccinations at schools for staff, local community members and for students once a vaccine for children has been approved.

“Doing so will help reopen schools as soon as possible, and in the safest way possible,” Superintendent Austin Beutner wrote.

California is nearing 3 million coronavirus cases and more than 33,600 people have died since the start of the pandemic last year, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.

The death rate from COVID-19 in Los Angeles County — the nation’s most populous and an epicenter of the state pandemic — works out to about one person every six minutes.

On Sunday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District suspended some pollution-control limits on the number of cremations for at least 10 days in order to deal with a backlog of bodies at hospitals and funeral homes.

“The current rate of death is more than double that of pre-pandemic years,” the agency said.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s state epidemiologist is urging a halt to more than 300,000 coronavirus vaccinations using a Moderna vaccine version because some people received medical treatment for possible severe allergic reactions.Dr. Erica S. Pan on Sunday recommended providers stop using lot 41L20A of the Moderna vaccine pending completion of an investigation by state officials, Moderna, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the federal Food and Drug Administration.“Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory,” Pan said in a statement.She said more than 330,000 doses from the lot arrived in California between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 and were distributed to 287 providers.Fewer than 10 people, who all received the vaccine at the same community site, needed medical attention over a 24-hour period, Pan said. No other similar clusters were found.Pan did not specify the number of cases involved or where they occurred.However, six San Diego health care workers had allergic reactions to vaccines they received at a mass vaccination center on Jan. 14. The site was temporarily closed and is now using other vaccines, KTGV-TV reported.Moderna in a statement said the company “is unaware of comparable adverse events from other vaccination centers which may have administered vaccines from the same lot.”The CDC has said COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects for a few days that include fever, chills, headache, swelling or tiredness, “which are normal signs that your body is building protection.”However, severe reactions are extremely rare. Pan said in a vaccine similar to Moderna, the rate of anaphylaxis — in which an immune system reaction can block breathing and cause blood pressure to drop — was about 1 in 100,000.The announcement came as California counties continue to plead for more COVID-19 vaccine as the state tries to reduce its rate of infection, which has led to record numbers of hospitalizations and deaths.California, with a population of 40 million, has shipped about about 3.2 million doses of the vaccine — which requires two doses for full immunization — to local health departments and health care systems, the state’s Department of Public Health reported Monday.Only about 1.4 million of those doses, or around 40%, have been administered.So far. the state has vaccinated fewer than 2,500 people per 100,000 residents, a rate that falls well below the national average, according to federal data.Although Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that anyone age 65 and older would be eligible to start receiving the vaccine, Los Angeles County and some others have said they do not have enough doses to vaccinate so many people and are first concentrating on inoculating health care workers and the most vulnerable elderly living in care homes.On Monday, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District sent a letter to state and county public health officials asking for authorization to provide COVID-19 vaccinations at schools for staff, local community members and for students once a vaccine for children has been approved.“Doing so will help reopen schools as soon as possible, and in the safest way possible,” Superintendent Austin Beutner wrote.California is nearing 3 million coronavirus cases and more than 33,600 people have died since the start of the pandemic last year, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.The death rate from COVID-19 in Los Angeles County — the nation’s most populous and an epicenter of the state pandemic — works out to about one person every six minutes.On Sunday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District suspended some pollution-control limits on the number of cremations for at least 10 days in order to deal with a backlog of bodies at hospitals and funeral homes.“The current rate of death is more than double that of pre-pandemic years,” the agency said.

Health official urges stop to 300K vaccines after some fall ill

Civilian employees at Fort Riley have been included in the first phase of COVID-19 vaccinations. Col. Will McKannay said, "Many of those first&nbsp; vaccinations did go through our Department of the Army civilians who work at the hospital. And some of my own Department of the Army civilian police and security guards who work here at the garrison, some of the maintenance workers and some of the other training support employees are civilian workers, great many of those."

McKannay noted they're right along side the Soldiers and are considered mission essential.

The garrison commander visited with area media this past week.

Civilian employees at Fort Riley have been included in the first phase of COVID-19 vaccinations. Col. Will McKannay said, "Many of those first&nbsp; vaccinations did go through our Department of the Army civilians who work at the hospital. And some of my own Department of the Army civilian police and security guards who work here at the garrison, some of the maintenance workers and some of the other training support employees are civilian workers, great many of those."McKannay noted they're right along side the Soldiers and are considered mission essential.The garrison commander visited with area media this past week.

Garrison Commander touches on civilian personnel COVID-19 vaccinations

By JULIE APPLEBY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-01-14/private-practice-doctors-patients-wonder-when-its-their-turn-for-the-covid-19-vaccine">Kaiser Health News</a>

Dr. Andrew Carroll — a family doctor in Chandler, Arizona — wants to 
help his patients get immunized against covid, so he paid more than 
$4,000 to buy an ultra-low-temperature freezer from eBay needed to store
 the Pfizer vaccine.

But he’s not sure he’ll get a chance to use 
it, given health officials have so far not said when private doctor’s 
offices will get vaccine.

Not
 only are doctors having trouble getting vaccine for patients, but many 
of the community-based physicians and medical staff that aren’t employed
 by hospitals or health systems also report mixed results in getting 
inoculated. Some have had their shots, yet others are still waiting, 
even though health workers providing direct care to patients are in the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s top-priority group.

Many
 of these doctors say they don’t know when — or if — they will get doses
 for their patients, which will soon become a bigger issue as states 
attempt to vaccinate more people.

“The reason that’s important is 
patients trust their doctors when it comes to the vaccine,” said 
Carroll, who has complained on social media that his county hasn’t yet 
released plans on how primary care doctors will be brought into the 
loop.

Collectively, physicians in the county could vaccinate 
thousands of patients a day, he said, and might draw some who would 
otherwise be hesitant if they had to go to a large hospital, a 
fairground or another central site.

His concern comes as, 
nationally, the rollout of the vaccine is off to a slower start than 
expected, lagging far behind the initial goal of giving 20 million doses
 before the new year.

But Dr. Jen Brull, a family practice doctor 
in Plainville, Kansas, said her rural area has made good progress on the
 first phase of vaccinations, crediting close working relationships 
formed well before the pandemic.

This fall, before any doses 
became available, the local hospital, the health department and 
physician offices coordinated a sign-up list for medical workers who 
wanted the vaccine. So, when their county, with a population of 5,000, 
got its first 70 doses, they were ready to go. Another 80 doses came a 
week later.

“We’ll be able to vaccinate almost all the health care-associated folks who wanted it in the county” Brull said recently

Dr.
 Jason Goldman, an internist in Coral Springs, Florida, said he was able
 to get vaccinated at a local hospital that received the bulk of 
vaccines in his county and oversaw distribution.

In the weeks since, however, he said several of his front-line staff members still “don’t have access to the vaccine.”

Additionally,
 “a tremendous number” of patients are calling his office because 
Florida has relaxed distribution guidelines to include anyone over age 
65, Goldman said, asking when they can get the vaccine. He’s applied to 
officials about distributing the vaccines through his practice but has 
heard nothing back.

Patients “are frustrated that they do not have
 clear answers and that I am not being given clear answers to provide 
them,” he said. “We have no choice but to direct them to the health 
department and some of the hospital systems.”

Another troubling 
point for Goldman, who served as a liaison between the American College 
of Physicians and the expert panel drawing up the CDC distribution 
guidelines, is the tremendous variation in how those recommendations are
 being implemented in the states.

The CDC <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations-process.html" target="_blank">recommends</a>
 several phases, with front-line health care workers and nursing home 
residents and staff in the initial group. Then, in the second part of 
that phase, come people over 75 and non-health care front-line workers, 
which could include first responders, teachers and other designated 
essential workers.

States have the flexibility to design their own
 rollout schedule and priority groups. Florida, for example, is offering
 doses to anyone 65 and up. In some counties, older folks were told 
vaccines were available on a first-come, first-served basis, a move that
 has resulted in long lines.

“To say right now, 65-plus, when you 
haven’t even appropriately vaccinated all the health care workers, is 
negating the phasing,” said Goldman. “There needs to be a national 
standard. We have those guidelines. We need to come up with some 
oversight.”

On Thursday, the American Hospital Association echoed 
that concern in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex 
Azar. Hospitals — along with health departments and large pharmacy 
chains — are doing the bulk of the vaccinations.

Calling for additional coordination by federal officials, the <a href="https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/01/aha-hhs-leadership-actions-needed-expedite-administration-covid-19-vaccines-lettetr-1-7-20.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>
 outlined what it would take to reach the goal of vaccinating 75% of 
Americans by the end of May: 1.8 million vaccinations every day. Noting 
there are 64 different rollout plans from states, cities and other 
jurisdictions, the letter asked whether HHS has “assessed whether these 
plans, taken as a whole, are capable of achieving this level of 
vaccination?”

Lack of direct national 
support or strategy means each county is essentially on its own, with 
success or failure affected by available resources and the experience of
 local officials. Most state and local health departments are 
underfunded and are under intense pressure because of the surging 
pandemic.

Still, the success of vaccination efforts depends on planning, preparation and clear communication.

In
 Lorain County, Ohio, population 310,000, local officials started 
practicing in October, said Mark Adams, deputy health commissioner. They
 set up mass vaccination clinics for influenza to study what would be 
needed for a covid vaccination effort. How many staff? What would the 
traffic flow be like? Could patients be kept 6 feet apart?

“That 
gave us an idea of what is good, what is bad and what needs to change,” 
said Adams, who has had previous experience coordinating mass 
vaccination efforts at a county level.

So, when the county got its
 first shipment of 500 doses Dec. 21, Adams had his plan ready. He 
called the fire chiefs to invite all emergency medical technicians and 
affiliated personnel to an ad hoc vaccination center set up at a large 
entertainment venue staffed by his health department. Upon arrival, 
people were greeted at the door and directed to spaced-apart “lanes” 
where they would get their shots, then to a monitoring area where they 
could wait for 15 minutes to make sure they didn’t have a reaction.

Right
 after Christmas, another 400 doses arrived — and the makeshift clinic 
opened again. This time, doses went to community-based physicians, 
dentists and other hands-on medical practitioners, 600 of whom had 
previously signed up. (Hospital workers and nursing home staff and 
residents are getting their vaccinations through their own 
institutions.)

As they move into the next phase — recipients 
include residents over 80, people with developmental disorders and 
school staff — the challenges will grow, he said. The county plans a 
multipronged approach to notify people when it’s their turn, including 
use of a website, the local media, churches, other organizations and 
word-of-mouth.

Adams shares the concerns of medical providers 
nationwide: He gets only two days’ notice of how many doses he’s going 
to receive and, at the current pace of 400 or 500 doses a week, it’s 
going to take a while before most residents in the county have a chance 
to get a shot, including the estimated 33,000 people 65 and older.

With
 10 nurses, his clinic can inject about 1,200 people a day. But many 
other health professionals have volunteered to administer the shots if 
he gets more doses.

“If I were to run three clinics, five days a 
week, I could do 15,000 vaccinations a week,” Adams said. “With all the 
volunteers, I could do almost six clinics, or 30,000 a week.”

Still,
 for those in the last public group, those age 18 and up without 
underlying medical conditions, “it could be summer,” Adams said.

<a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the <a href="http://www.kff.org/" target="_blank">Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation</a> which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

By JULIE APPLEBY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-01-14/private-practice-doctors-patients-wonder-when-its-their-turn-for-the-covid-19-vaccine">Kaiser Health News</a>Dr. Andrew Carroll — a family doctor in Chandler, Arizona — wants to 
help his patients get immunized against covid, so he paid more than 
$4,000 to buy an ultra-low-temperature freezer from eBay needed to store
 the Pfizer vaccine.But he’s not sure he’ll get a chance to use 
it, given health officials have so far not said when private doctor’s 
offices will get vaccine.“I’m really angry,” said Carroll.Not
 only are doctors having trouble getting vaccine for patients, but many 
of the community-based physicians and medical staff that aren’t employed
 by hospitals or health systems also report mixed results in getting 
inoculated. Some have had their shots, yet others are still waiting, 
even though health workers providing direct care to patients are in the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s top-priority group.Many
 of these doctors say they don’t know when — or if — they will get doses
 for their patients, which will soon become a bigger issue as states 
attempt to vaccinate more people.“The reason that’s important is 
patients trust their doctors when it comes to the vaccine,” said 
Carroll, who has complained on social media that his county hasn’t yet 
released plans on how primary care doctors will be brought into the 
loop.Collectively, physicians in the county could vaccinate 
thousands of patients a day, he said, and might draw some who would 
otherwise be hesitant if they had to go to a large hospital, a 
fairground or another central site.His concern comes as, 
nationally, the rollout of the vaccine is off to a slower start than 
expected, lagging far behind the initial goal of giving 20 million doses
 before the new year.But Dr. Jen Brull, a family practice doctor 
in Plainville, Kansas, said her rural area has made good progress on the
 first phase of vaccinations, crediting close working relationships 
formed well before the pandemic.This fall, before any doses 
became available, the local hospital, the health department and 
physician offices coordinated a sign-up list for medical workers who 
wanted the vaccine. So, when their county, with a population of 5,000, 
got its first 70 doses, they were ready to go. Another 80 doses came a 
week later.“We’ll be able to vaccinate almost all the health care-associated folks who wanted it in the county” Brull said recently<h2>Gaps in the Rollout</h2>But that’s not the case everywhere.Dr.
 Jason Goldman, an internist in Coral Springs, Florida, said he was able
 to get vaccinated at a local hospital that received the bulk of 
vaccines in his county and oversaw distribution.In the weeks since, however, he said several of his front-line staff members still “don’t have access to the vaccine.”Additionally,
 “a tremendous number” of patients are calling his office because 
Florida has relaxed distribution guidelines to include anyone over age 
65, Goldman said, asking when they can get the vaccine. He’s applied to 
officials about distributing the vaccines through his practice but has 
heard nothing back.Patients “are frustrated that they do not have
 clear answers and that I am not being given clear answers to provide 
them,” he said. “We have no choice but to direct them to the health 
department and some of the hospital systems.”Another troubling 
point for Goldman, who served as a liaison between the American College 
of Physicians and the expert panel drawing up the CDC distribution 
guidelines, is the tremendous variation in how those recommendations are
 being implemented in the states.The CDC <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations-process.html" target="_blank">recommends</a>
 several phases, with front-line health care workers and nursing home 
residents and staff in the initial group. Then, in the second part of 
that phase, come people over 75 and non-health care front-line workers, 
which could include first responders, teachers and other designated 
essential workers.States have the flexibility to design their own
 rollout schedule and priority groups. Florida, for example, is offering
 doses to anyone 65 and up. In some counties, older folks were told 
vaccines were available on a first-come, first-served basis, a move that
 has resulted in long lines.“To say right now, 65-plus, when you 
haven’t even appropriately vaccinated all the health care workers, is 
negating the phasing,” said Goldman. “There needs to be a national 
standard. We have those guidelines. We need to come up with some 
oversight.”On Thursday, the American Hospital Association echoed 
that concern in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex 
Azar. Hospitals — along with health departments and large pharmacy 
chains — are doing the bulk of the vaccinations.Calling for additional coordination by federal officials, the <a href="https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/01/aha-hhs-leadership-actions-needed-expedite-administration-covid-19-vaccines-lettetr-1-7-20.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>
 outlined what it would take to reach the goal of vaccinating 75% of 
Americans by the end of May: 1.8 million vaccinations every day. Noting 
there are 64 different rollout plans from states, cities and other 
jurisdictions, the letter asked whether HHS has “assessed whether these 
plans, taken as a whole, are capable of achieving this level of 
vaccination?”<h2>Making It Work</h2>Lack of direct national 
support or strategy means each county is essentially on its own, with 
success or failure affected by available resources and the experience of
 local officials. Most state and local health departments are 
underfunded and are under intense pressure because of the surging 
pandemic.Still, the success of vaccination efforts depends on planning, preparation and clear communication.In
 Lorain County, Ohio, population 310,000, local officials started 
practicing in October, said Mark Adams, deputy health commissioner. They
 set up mass vaccination clinics for influenza to study what would be 
needed for a covid vaccination effort. How many staff? What would the 
traffic flow be like? Could patients be kept 6 feet apart?“That 
gave us an idea of what is good, what is bad and what needs to change,” 
said Adams, who has had previous experience coordinating mass 
vaccination efforts at a county level.So, when the county got its
 first shipment of 500 doses Dec. 21, Adams had his plan ready. He 
called the fire chiefs to invite all emergency medical technicians and 
affiliated personnel to an ad hoc vaccination center set up at a large 
entertainment venue staffed by his health department. Upon arrival, 
people were greeted at the door and directed to spaced-apart “lanes” 
where they would get their shots, then to a monitoring area where they 
could wait for 15 minutes to make sure they didn’t have a reaction.Right
 after Christmas, another 400 doses arrived — and the makeshift clinic 
opened again. This time, doses went to community-based physicians, 
dentists and other hands-on medical practitioners, 600 of whom had 
previously signed up. (Hospital workers and nursing home staff and 
residents are getting their vaccinations through their own 
institutions.)As they move into the next phase — recipients 
include residents over 80, people with developmental disorders and 
school staff — the challenges will grow, he said. The county plans a 
multipronged approach to notify people when it’s their turn, including 
use of a website, the local media, churches, other organizations and 
word-of-mouth.Adams shares the concerns of medical providers 
nationwide: He gets only two days’ notice of how many doses he’s going 
to receive and, at the current pace of 400 or 500 doses a week, it’s 
going to take a while before most residents in the county have a chance 
to get a shot, including the estimated 33,000 people 65 and older.With
 10 nurses, his clinic can inject about 1,200 people a day. But many 
other health professionals have volunteered to administer the shots if 
he gets more doses.“If I were to run three clinics, five days a 
week, I could do 15,000 vaccinations a week,” Adams said. “With all the 
volunteers, I could do almost six clinics, or 30,000 a week.”Still,
 for those in the last public group, those age 18 and up without 
underlying medical conditions, “it could be summer,” Adams said.<a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the <a href="http://www.kff.org/" target="_blank">Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation</a> which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

Private practice docs, patients wonder when it’s their turn for vaccine 

Each year, the Junction City-Geary County Dr, Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee leads the commUNITY-wide observance of the national holiday commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. King while bringing to the forefront current events and issues that serve to kill, steal and destroy the very essence of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

According to a social media post this year, the committee will not host a formal program or march but will co-join with other state and surrounding communities in support of programs and activities (virtually). First and foremost we must adhere to the restrictions aligned with the current pandemic (public gatherings and group limits/facilities) and the like; and ensure the safety and wellness of all. Our plans will hold to a later time/date as not to diminish quality or intent.

In the interim, we charge YOU, our beloved commUNITY to be stand firm, be vigilant and commit to service; exemplify excellence in leadership; pursue the universal quest for social justice and strive to do what is right and good creating a more just, humane and peaceful world, in the tradition of Martin Luther King, Jr. May his truth keep marching on!

Recommit to that which is greater than self. Join us, support us. Connect with us. You will be charged, inspired and empowered.&nbsp;

Each year, the Junction City-Geary County Dr, Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee leads the commUNITY-wide observance of the national holiday commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. King while bringing to the forefront current events and issues that serve to kill, steal and destroy the very essence of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.According to a social media post this year, the committee will not host a formal program or march but will co-join with other state and surrounding communities in support of programs and activities (virtually). First and foremost we must adhere to the restrictions aligned with the current pandemic (public gatherings and group limits/facilities) and the like; and ensure the safety and wellness of all. Our plans will hold to a later time/date as not to diminish quality or intent.In the interim, we charge YOU, our beloved commUNITY to be stand firm, be vigilant and commit to service; exemplify excellence in leadership; pursue the universal quest for social justice and strive to do what is right and good creating a more just, humane and peaceful world, in the tradition of Martin Luther King, Jr. May his truth keep marching on!Recommit to that which is greater than self. Join us, support us. Connect with us. You will be charged, inspired and empowered.&nbsp;

MLK Jr. Celebration Committee releases statement 

An 85-year-old male died last week after testing positive for COVID-19. The man tested positive on December 28, 2020, and passed away on January 8, 2021. His passing represents the 23rd death in Riley County.&nbsp;

Riley County has identified 130 new positive cases and 64 additional recoveries since the last report on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.&nbsp;

Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 23 positive patients and 1 PUI. A Person Under Investigation is someone experiencing symptoms who is waiting for test results. Three of the positive patients are in the Intensive Care Unit.&nbsp;

We are scheduled to finish administering the first dose of the vaccine to healthcare professionals in Riley County who submitted their information. We will begin vaccinating some people in Phase 2 starting next week. You will be contacted directly by the health department with information on how to receive your vaccine. Anyone included in Phase 1 who has not received their first dose, is still eligible and should contact the Riley County Health Department at covid19vaccine@rileycountyks.gov.&nbsp;

As of 11:30 a.m. today, the online coronavirus vaccine signup and phone line are temporarily unavailable as we work with our website developer to update the form for new applicants. We have received over 8,000 people who have signed up so far. We hope the online form and phone line will be available again later this afternoon and will send out an update when they are available again for signups. Thank you for your understanding and patience.&nbsp;

When the form and phone line are restored, you can sign up to receive the coronavirus vaccine through our website here:&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=5143646051&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">www.RileyCountyKS.gov/VaccineRequest</a>&nbsp;or call Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.: (785) 565-6560.&nbsp;

Please be patient as we are experiencing a high volume of requests.&nbsp;

Riley County Statistics for Friday, January 15:

An 85-year-old male died last week after testing positive for COVID-19. The man tested positive on December 28, 2020, and passed away on January 8, 2021. His passing represents the 23rd death in Riley County.&nbsp;Riley County has identified 130 new positive cases and 64 additional recoveries since the last report on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan is caring for 23 positive patients and 1 PUI. A Person Under Investigation is someone experiencing symptoms who is waiting for test results. Three of the positive patients are in the Intensive Care Unit.&nbsp;We are scheduled to finish administering the first dose of the vaccine to healthcare professionals in Riley County who submitted their information. We will begin vaccinating some people in Phase 2 starting next week. You will be contacted directly by the health department with information on how to receive your vaccine. Anyone included in Phase 1 who has not received their first dose, is still eligible and should contact the Riley County Health Department at covid19vaccine@rileycountyks.gov.&nbsp;Phase 1 includes:<ul>
 <li>Healthcare workers</li><li>Long Term Care Facilities</li><li>Emergency Medical Services</li>
 </ul>Phase 2 includes:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Adults 65 and Older</li><li>First Responders</li><li>K-12 Teachers and Staff</li><li>Licensed Child Care, Preschools, After School Care, Child Care Licensing Staff</li><li>Emergency Shelter and Domestic Violence Homes, Adult Group Care Homes, Residential Treatment Centers, Adult&nbsp;and Child Protective Services</li><li>Public Transportation</li>
 </ul>As of 11:30 a.m. today, the online coronavirus vaccine signup and phone line are temporarily unavailable as we work with our website developer to update the form for new applicants. We have received over 8,000 people who have signed up so far. We hope the online form and phone line will be available again later this afternoon and will send out an update when they are available again for signups. Thank you for your understanding and patience.&nbsp;When the form and phone line are restored, you can sign up to receive the coronavirus vaccine through our website here:&nbsp;<a href="https://gmail.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=95221c46aac4689e49a7c0bfc&amp;id=5143646051&amp;e=fd06d17886" target="_blank">www.RileyCountyKS.gov/VaccineRequest</a>&nbsp;or call Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.: (785) 565-6560.&nbsp;Please be patient as we are experiencing a high volume of requests.&nbsp;Riley County Statistics for Friday, January 15:<ul>
 <li>Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 5,597</li><li>Total active:&nbsp; 545</li><li>Total recovered: 5,029</li><li>Total deaths: 23</li>
 </ul>

Riley County Health releases COVID-19 update

There were 20 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases reported in Geary County on Thursday. There were 19 recovered cases. There were 141 active cases in the county and one person was hospitalized.

Since the pandemic began there have been 1,319 confirmed positive cases and 1,158 recovered cases.

There were 20 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases reported in Geary County on Thursday. There were 19 recovered cases. There were 141 active cases in the county and one person was hospitalized.Since the pandemic began there have been 1,319 confirmed positive cases and 1,158 recovered cases.

Health Department releases COVID-19 stats

Geary County Emergency Management has announced that the TourHealth COVID-19 testing site at the former Dick Edwards site on Grant Ave. will remain closed Friday due to high winds.

Geary County Emergency Management has announced that the TourHealth COVID-19 testing site at the former Dick Edwards site on Grant Ave. will remain closed Friday due to high winds.

COVID-19 testing site on Grant Avenue will be closed Friday

The Geary County Health Department report on Tuesday revealed that there were 14 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and eight recovered cases. Three people ae hospitalized.

There are 124 active cases in Geary County. According to the health department the unofficial death count stands at 21. That count is likely missing deaths of Geary County residents that were transferred to other counties to receive medical attention.

The Geary County Health Department report on Tuesday revealed that there were 14 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and eight recovered cases. Three people ae hospitalized.There are 124 active cases in Geary County. According to the health department the unofficial death count stands at 21. That count is likely missing deaths of Geary County residents that were transferred to other counties to receive medical attention.

Health Department releases latest COVID-19 count

Geary Community Hospital is announcing that a one-time settlement to any past due accounts will be offered with the hospital and its associated clinics. Any bill received before Jan. 1, 2021 is eligible for the program.&nbsp;

Community members will work with either the hospital or an outside collection agency to take advantage of a 35% reduction of their bills. The settlements must be paid by April 30.

"The hospital recognizes that part of our mission to promote the well-being of those we serve, and this was the best way for the financial side of the house to get involved with doing exactly that, " said Richard Lewis, Chief Financial Officer. "We know that there are residents of Geary County that depend on GCH to take care of them, and this is our way of giving back," noted Frank Corcoran, CEO.

To take advantage of the offer, watch your mailbox for an offer letter, or call 785-210-3349 to discuss your options with a hospital representative.

Geary Community Hospital is announcing that a one-time settlement to any past due accounts will be offered with the hospital and its associated clinics. Any bill received before Jan. 1, 2021 is eligible for the program.&nbsp;Community members will work with either the hospital or an outside collection agency to take advantage of a 35% reduction of their bills. The settlements must be paid by April 30."The hospital recognizes that part of our mission to promote the well-being of those we serve, and this was the best way for the financial side of the house to get involved with doing exactly that, " said Richard Lewis, Chief Financial Officer. "We know that there are residents of Geary County that depend on GCH to take care of them, and this is our way of giving back," noted Frank Corcoran, CEO.To take advantage of the offer, watch your mailbox for an offer letter, or call 785-210-3349 to discuss your options with a hospital representative.

GCH will offer a one-time settlement

Geary County Health Department provided the latest COVID-19 numbers on Monday. There were 11 new confirmed positive cases and 32 recoveries.&nbsp;

There are 168 active cases in the county and three people are hospitalized.

Geary County Health Department provided the latest COVID-19 numbers on Monday. There were 11 new confirmed positive cases and 32 recoveries.&nbsp;There are 168 active cases in the county and three people are hospitalized.

County health officials released the latest COVID-19 totals

GCH is currently caring for 3 COVID positive patients.&nbsp; One of those patients is in ICU.

GCH is currently caring for 3 COVID positive patients.&nbsp; One of those patients is in ICU.<figure>
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Geary Community Hospital provides a COVID-19 report

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University nutrition specialist says a newly published study of early health impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic is further testimony to the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight.&nbsp;

Sandy Procter said an important message from the research – which included more than 7,700 people from around the world – is that people who were considered obese experienced more negative impacts during the early stages of the pandemic.&nbsp;

During the early stages, when lockdowns and stay-at-home orders were more common, “those who were obese were found to be more likely to have gained weight,” Procter said. “And they were more likely to report increased stress during that time.”&nbsp;

The research, conducted by a team of international scientists, took place in April and May, 2020 and was peer-reviewed early last summer. The findings, and related articles, are published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1930739x/2020/28/12" target="_blank">December issue of the journal, Obesity</a>.&nbsp;

The study’s data compared people who were considered normal weight, overweight or obese. One portion of a related study – also in the December issue of Obesity – concluded that obesity doubles the mortality rate in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. &nbsp;

“If you can recall back to the early lockdown period, I truly feel like we were all kind of suspended,” Procter said. “Everything ground to a halt. Some of the initial health effects noted in COVID patients were more profound in at-risk groups that needed helpful support, especially persons with pre-existing conditions, including obesity. ”&nbsp;

For most, the lockdown period meant adjusting their daily routine, including when they sleep, go to work and, perhaps, exercise. Some did it better than others.&nbsp;

“There were 10% of the people in this study who found that their sleep quality improved,” Procter said. “And those who&nbsp; found themselves without long commutes found they had more time to exercise. It was maybe a change in how they did it, but there was more time in their day for healthful activities.”&nbsp;

Yet, she added, “some of those opportunities are not as available to everyone across the board.”&nbsp;

“So the effect of the stress caused by the pandemic has become noticeable among different parts of the population.”&nbsp;

The disruption in lifestyles did also provide another important reminder, according to Procter.&nbsp;

“If we’re smart, we’re going to keep a closer eye on our own self-care and realize that there may be many opportunities… to support our health,” she said. “But when it comes down to it, it really has a lot to do with personal awareness of our health and the variety of factors that we can address.”&nbsp;

It seems to be a valid point because stress, as Procter points out, won’t go away once the pandemic is in the rearview mirror. There will still be jobs to go to, school to attend, kids to take care of, and other responsibilities.&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Kansas State University nutrition specialist says a newly published study of early health impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic is further testimony to the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight.&nbsp;Sandy Procter said an important message from the research – which included more than 7,700 people from around the world – is that people who were considered obese experienced more negative impacts during the early stages of the pandemic.&nbsp;During the early stages, when lockdowns and stay-at-home orders were more common, “those who were obese were found to be more likely to have gained weight,” Procter said. “And they were more likely to report increased stress during that time.”&nbsp;The research, conducted by a team of international scientists, took place in April and May, 2020 and was peer-reviewed early last summer. The findings, and related articles, are published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1930739x/2020/28/12" target="_blank">December issue of the journal, Obesity</a>.&nbsp;The study’s data compared people who were considered normal weight, overweight or obese. One portion of a related study – also in the December issue of Obesity – concluded that obesity doubles the mortality rate in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. &nbsp;“If you can recall back to the early lockdown period, I truly feel like we were all kind of suspended,” Procter said. “Everything ground to a halt. Some of the initial health effects noted in COVID patients were more profound in at-risk groups that needed helpful support, especially persons with pre-existing conditions, including obesity. ”&nbsp;For most, the lockdown period meant adjusting their daily routine, including when they sleep, go to work and, perhaps, exercise. Some did it better than others.&nbsp;“There were 10% of the people in this study who found that their sleep quality improved,” Procter said. “And those who&nbsp; found themselves without long commutes found they had more time to exercise. It was maybe a change in how they did it, but there was more time in their day for healthful activities.”&nbsp;Yet, she added, “some of those opportunities are not as available to everyone across the board.”&nbsp;“So the effect of the stress caused by the pandemic has become noticeable among different parts of the population.”&nbsp;The disruption in lifestyles did also provide another important reminder, according to Procter.&nbsp;“If we’re smart, we’re going to keep a closer eye on our own self-care and realize that there may be many opportunities… to support our health,” she said. “But when it comes down to it, it really has a lot to do with personal awareness of our health and the variety of factors that we can address.”&nbsp;It seems to be a valid point because stress, as Procter points out, won’t go away once the pandemic is in the rearview mirror. There will still be jobs to go to, school to attend, kids to take care of, and other responsibilities.&nbsp;“My hope is that, ideally, the emphasis that communities are placing on having resources that support mental health and identifying situations where people are at risk –preventative health steps -- will become more commonplace,” Procter said, “and that there will be more resources and attention paid to those areas.”&nbsp;Tips for healthy living are available&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hhs.k-state.edu/fndh" target="_blank">online from K-State Research and Extension.</a>&nbsp;

Coronavirus Update