Cheney vaccination clinic offers incentives ranging from kid’s toys to dog crates

The Cheney Fire Department is hosting a “Home for the Holidays” COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Sunday. Vaccine recipients will be offered a range of incentives, from children’s toys and dog crates to T-shirts and hot chocolate.

The clinic, which will run from 1 to 4 p.m. at the fire station, is being hosted in partnership with the Sedgwick County Health Department.

“By offering these incentives, we hope to provide added encouragement for people to get a first shot or complete their series,” Health Department Director Adrienne Byrne said in a news release.

“More importantly, we hope people will come out to protect themselves and their loved ones heading into the holidays.”

The health department will be administering free Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines for ages 5 and up, as well as single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccines for people 18 and older. No appointments are necessary.

According to the release, people receiving their first dose can choose from incentives “including household items, children’s toys, electronics, dog crates, games and more.” People receiving additional doses, including boosters, will receive a “limited-run” T-shirt.

Hot chocolate will be available for anyone who attends.

Sedgwick County’s COVID-19 dashboard reports that there have been 75,008 cases and 891 deaths in the county as of Friday morning.

Wichita hospital status is at red, indicating critical condition. As of Monday, the most recent day in which data is available, the county reported 169 COVID-19 patients in local hospitals and 59 patients in intensive care.

According to the New York Times vaccination tracker, 49% of Sedgwick County residents have been fully inoculated against the virus. Fifty-eight percent of residents 12 and up are fully vaccinated, as are 77% of residents 65 and older.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Thursday that the state’s first case of the omicron variant has been confirmed Franklin County.

Kansas’ first omicron case comes as hospitalizations, cases and deaths have been increasing over the last few weeks.

Average new cases per day in Kansas have increased 61% in the past two weeks, while hospitalizations have increased 26% and deaths have increased 155%, according to The Times.