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Geary County health director reports federal vaccine guidance changes; requests extended clinic hours for schools
Summary
Health Director Charles Martinez told the commission federal changes to vaccine guidance are delaying some COVID vaccinations and that the county is awaiting insurer guidance. He asked to keep clinics open later two or three days next month to serve the school district; commissioners agreed.
Charles Martinez, director of the Geary County Health Department, told the commission the federal government recently made multiple changes affecting vaccine distribution that have created short-term delays for COVID vaccinations and other infant immunizations.
Martinez said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a single COVID vaccine for use in people 65 and older, and he summarized a recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) vote: "the advisory committee on immunization practices on Friday, they just voted saying that the COVID vaccine would be recommended to everyone over 6 months, but they need to work with their doctors to share consent." He said that insurance coverage is inconsistent at present — some insurers have said they will pay, others have signaled they will not — and the department is awaiting final federal and payer guidance, which is delaying the county’s ability to provide COVID vaccinations.
Martinez also reported that the measles outbreak in Kansas was declared over in September and that Geary County had no measles cases. He summarized local surveillance metrics: acute respiratory illnesses are below seasonal norms for September, RSV was not detected at the county emergency department during the period he reported, and COVID positivity locally was “below 1 percent.” On sexually transmitted infections, he said the county recorded nine chlamydia cases and two gonorrhea cases during the reporting period and noted one imported malaria case.
Martinez requested permission to keep the health department open later two or three days next month — until about 7 p.m. on those days — to provide flu and COVID clinics and to accommodate school vaccination needs. Commissioners indicated approval: one said, “Yeah. That’s fine,” and another said the commission was agreeable to the request. Martinez said the extended hours would not affect the department budget; staff schedules would be adjusted.
Martinez also outlined training and operational items: upcoming cybersecurity and winter-weather training for staff, an upgrade to the department’s billing system requiring retraining, and community clinics planned for flu and COVID vaccinations in the coming months.
