Kansas City,
27
January
2021
|
07:52 AM
America/Chicago

Children’s Mercy Helping Vaccinate Teachers and Others in the Community

Children’s Mercy began vaccinating employees against COVID-19 late last year. The hospital expects to wrap up administering the second dose to its employees by the end of February.

Now that staff has been immunized, the healthcare system continues to follow the COVID-19 vaccine rollout plans developed by Missouri and Kansas and is working with both states to get its patients (16 and older) and others in the community vaccinated as more doses become available.

In Missouri, Children’s Mercy is working with the Kansas City and Jackson County Health Departments to help vaccinate some populations in the community that provide services to children. Children’s Mercy is also partnering with Truman Medical Centers to assist with vaccinating K-12 educators in Kansas City, Missouri and Jackson County when their tier becomes eligible.

In Kansas, work has begun with the Johnson County Health Department to get teachers and licensed childcare workers vaccinated.

“We’re excited to be able to help those in the communities where our two hospitals are located,” said Jennifer Watts, MD, MPH, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, Medical Director Emergency Preparedness, Children’s Mercy. “It’s important that vaccines be made available to our educators and others who have direct impact on our kids. As long as we continue to receive the vaccine, we’ll continue to get them out as fast as we can.”

The Health Departments or the School Districts will notify individuals who are eligible to receive the vaccination when it’s available.

Children’s Mercy has also started offering the vaccine to its high-risk patient population – patients that are 16 and older with one of the following active diagnoses: cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, heart conditions, weakened immune system due to organ transplant, severe obesity (BMI >40), sickle cell disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome. Patients who are eligible to receive the vaccine will be notified by their care team.

 

Learn more about the COVID-19 Vaccine at Children's Mercy.