Tag Archives: kdhe

Kansas suspends Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution

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MISSION, Kan. (AP) – Kansas’ top health official said Tuesday that the state is suspending distribution of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccines as federal health officials investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.

(Previous Story:  US recommends ‘pause’ for J&J vaccine over clot reports)

Lee Norman, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, predicted the pause won’t have a “big impact” on the state’s overall rate of shots. That’s because less than 4% of the shots administered in Kansas have been from Johnson & Johnson, according to KDHE data.

However, Norman noted some clinics scheduled for Tuesday morning had been put on hold, The Kansas City Star reports.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a huge setback because the last few weeks we talked about all the Johnson & Johnson vaccine we were supposed to be getting but for a variety of production and other reasons, it never materialized,” Norman said.

David Wild, vice president of performance improvement at the University of Kansas Health System, said the pause is a signal that the country’s vaccine safety mechanisms are working as designed.

“There are people up and awake 24 hours a day looking for these types of things to make sure that it is safe for the people receiving the vaccines in your community, in the country, in the world,” Wild said.

Kansas issues guidance for those who are vaccinated

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TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas health officials release private home guidance for fully vaccinated residents.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fully vaccinated people can gather without masks. Today, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued similar guidance.

Two weeks after Kansans receive their completed vaccination (two weeks after the second dose for Pfizer and Moderna, two weeks after the single dose for Johnson & Johnson), Kansans may begin to gather in their private homes with other fully vaccinated people, in small groups, without masks or social distancing.

The guidance also allows for vaccinated people to gather in private homes with unvaccinated people so long as the unvaccinated people are from a single household and are at low risk for developing severe disease.

“These changes are an important step in moving forward,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said. “This will allow grandparents to socialize with families, friends and neighbors to gather.”

While private home guidance has changed for those who are fully vaccinated, public health measures in public still apply to everyone, including those vaccinated.

  • Wear a mask
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from others
  • Avoid crowds
  • Avoid poorly ventilated spaces
  • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol

“Thank you for continuing to keep your fellow Kansans safe,” Dr. Norman said.

Boil advisory rescinded for Allen County Rural District No. 4

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ALLEN COUNTY, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) rescinds the boil water advisory for Allen County Rural Water District No. 4. The advisory was issued dues to a loss of pressure in the distribution system.

Laboratory testing samples collected from Allen County Rural Water District No. 4 indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination. KDHE deemed all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination to be resolved.

If you have questions, KDHE asks you contact the water system or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514.

Parsons ‘strongly recommends’ residents boil their water

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PARSONS, Kan. – The City of Parsons implements a voluntary boil order as crews monitor and test the city’s water system.

While there is not a KDHE mandatory boil order currently in effect, official strongly recommend residents boil water they plan on cooking with or drinking for at least the next 24-48 hours. Parsons is also recommending health services and others at-need- residents use bottled water for drinking.

City crews are currently testing water at a dozen points throughout the city. Once the city gets official confirmation on the system or water sampling, it share that information on its official Facebook page.

 

At this time there is NOT a mandatory boil order from KDHE however the City has implemented a voluntary boil order for…

Posted by Parsons, KS Public Information Office on Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Elk City, KS boil water advisory rescinded

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ELK CITY, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) rescinds a boil water advisory for the City of Elk City, Kansas. KDHE issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the Elk City indicated no evidence of bacteriological contamination and KDHE officials deemed all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination to be resolved.

For consumer questions, you can contact the water system or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage.