PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas (CHC/SEK) is now offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments for people aged 65 and older. There is no out-of-pocket cost to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccinations will be available at all CHC/SEK clinic locations.

To schedule an appointment, patients need to call (866) 888-8650 any day of the week from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. There is an additional line for Spanish speakers, available at (620) 240-8940, answered from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

CHC/SEK is one of 250 health centers nationally selected to receive a direct supply of COVID-19 vaccine to ensure underserved communities are equitably vaccinated. The health center expects 4,000 doses of Moderna vaccine to arrive the week of March 1.

CHC/SEK will follow the state priorities for what populations are eligible to receive the vaccine, however vaccine recipients will not be restricted by county residency, nor do they have to be a patient of CHC/SEK.

“This is a gift to the people of Southeast Kansas, the least healthy and most economically challenged region of the state,” said Krista Postai, President & CEO of CHC/SEK. “With almost 20 percent of our population over 65, the ability to reach out to provide this potentially life-saving vaccine is probably one of the most important initiatives in our history.”

Vaccine appointments will be available at CHC/SEK locations.

In Pittsburg, CHC/SEK has established a vaccine center at 924 N. Broadway, with extended and weekend hours to make receiving a COVID-19 vaccination as convenient as possible. The health center has also formed special vaccination outreach teams to target special populations by taking the vaccine to them.

“Based on the calls we’ve been receiving, we know many people are eager to get vaccinated and so afraid they’ll be overlooked because they live in rural Kansas,” Postai said. “It is so wonderful to tell them they’ve actually been prioritized nationally.”