The numbers of COVID-19 cases at The University of Kansas Health System overall continues to improve with some exceptions. In KCK, the hospital yesterday reported 56 active or acute patients, 24 in the ICU with 18 on ventilators and 61 recovering. Today, there are 58 active, 26 in the ICU, 20 on ventilators with 68 recovering. At HaysMed, there are 25 total patients, 15 active, 10 recovering and one on a ventilator. That compares to yesterday, when HaysMed reported 27 total COVID-19 patients, 21 active, three on ventilators and six recovering.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control today received the Moderna vaccine on the Update to demonstrate the process. His next vaccine will be January 26. Moderna trial research is based on shots given 28 days apart while the Pfizer vaccinations are given 21 days apart. Dr. Hawkinson is among the first wave of health system employees to receive the vaccine based on front line workers who have the highest exposure, duration and frequency to COVID-19 positive patients. The health system is prepared to give a thousand vaccinations per week if the vaccine shipments keep coming.
Vaccine experts Barbara Pahud (pa HUDE – rhymes with rude), MD., MPH, Research Director of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases at Children’s Mercy and Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the KU School of Medicine and Mario Castro, M.D., MPH, Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research at KUMC and health system pulmonology and critical care physician answered vaccine related questions and updated the AstraZeneca trial.
Dr. Pahud reported nearly 30,000 people nationwide have been enrolled in the AstraZeneca trial, and enrollment should be completed by the end of the year. Dr. Castro reported that regionally, including the metro and Wichita, nearly 500 people have been enrolled. Dr. Castro added they have met their targets for enrolling elderly participants which make up roughly 30% of the local trial population. Both doctors acknowledged they have not yet reached their targets to enroll people of color and are still working to enroll more. Doctors applauded the community for stepping up and taking part in the trial and added there is room to help educate across all groups about the benefits of all the vaccines. Doctors say multiple vaccines will be needed to vaccinate the world The Moderna and Pfizer messenger RNA vaccines are effective and good for developed countries with ultra-cold storage options, while the AstraZeneca vaccine will be used in developing countries where conventional storage and temperatures are more the norm. The advantage of the mRNA vaccines includes being able to rapidly produce them and program them to keep up with the virus as needs demand.
Dr. Steve Stites, Chief Medical Officer at The University of Kansas Health System, reminded everyone to take care during the ongoing holiday season and the New Year’s Eve celebrations to come. He said there is a ‘Call to Arms’ underway for everyone to get their vaccinations, and although COVID-19 cases are fewer right now, community spread is still strong. He said the pillars of infection prevention and control will carry us through as we patiently wait for the world to receive the vaccines.
Wednesday, December 30 at 8:00 a.m. President and CEO of Health Forward, Qiana (key-on-ah)Thomason
, joins to update efforts underway to get the vaccine to those most affected by COVID-19, which are people of color, and how to ultimately convince them to take the shot.
ATTENTION: media procedure for calling in:
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