Ellis County OKs temporary Health Department closure so staff can attend Kansas Immunization Conference

The Ellis County Commission on May 6 approved a request from the Ellis County Health Department to close the office briefly so staff could attend the Kansas Immunization Conference in Wichita and earn continuing education credits.

Melissa Miller of the Ellis County Health Department said the conference—scheduled for Thursday, May 22 in Wichita—covers outbreak response, updated immunization protocols and best practices, and that attendance is timely given a measles outbreak in Kansas. Miller said the trip is fully funded through the department—s immunization action grant and had been budgeted for 2025; the department requested closure for Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday so staff could attend together and earn CEUs.

Commission discussion noted foot-care appointment schedules and nursing coverage: commissioners asked what services might be missed and Miller said the department would not schedule foot-care appointments that Wednesday and that Thursday appointments would be affected; she said staff who could not provide nursing services that day would leave the office closed. A motion to permit the closure from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday, May 22 passed unanimously, 3-0.

Miller said bringing the whole staff to the conference would build team cohesion, ensure frontline staff receive immunization training, and help staff answer questions from residents consistently; she said registration and lodging costs are covered by the immunization action grant.