Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly receives Moderna COVID-19 booster shot on Friday
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly received a booster shot of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine Friday, her office announced.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is free, safe, effective, and the best way to keep our communities protected from this virus,” Kelly said in a statement. “I wouldn’t ask any Kansan to do something I wasn’t willing to do myself, which is why today I received my COVID-19 booster shot. Whether you are considering your first shot or signing up for a booster, I urge everyone to get the facts and get vaccinated. Together, we can put an end to this deadly pandemic.”
Kelly’s booster shot comes days after she held a news conference at a Topeka grocery store with Rep. John Alcala, a Topeka Democrat, who contracted a mild case of COVID-19. Alcala was vaccinated. Kelly planned to get a COVID-19 test Wednesday, but decided not to because she did not have symptoms and was not a close contact to Alcala.
Kelly, 71, received her first dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine last December. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that vaccinated individuals who got the Pfizer or Moderna shot and are over age 65, who have underlying medical conditions or who live or work in high-risk environments get a booster.
A booster for those who opted for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is recommended for people age 18 and older.
Kansas has a vaccine rate that is below the national average. In the U.S., 59% of the population has been fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. But only 48% of Kansas’ population has completed vaccination, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. That number is also lower than Missouri, where 50% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
Kansas reported 2,705 new cases, 55 new hospitalizations and five new deaths. On Friday, the state’s health agency reported that a sixth Kansas child died after falling ill from COVID-19. The virus has led to 6,618 deaths across the state since the pandemic began.
This story was originally published November 13, 2021 at 10:29 AM with the headline "Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly receives Moderna COVID-19 booster shot on Friday."
