None of the nurses, including Payer, feel “comfortable” administering a vaccine that has gone through a speedy testing process with new technology, the Kansas City Star reported. Studies involving tens of thousands of people found that the two vaccines approved for emergency use in the U.S. are nearly 95% effective at preventing COVID-19 illness. The studies discovered no major safety problems, although the vaccines do come with a caution about rare, serious allergic reactions. That’s why people are supposed to be observed for 15 minutes after the injection, so any adverse reactions can be treated promptly.
But because very rare side effects sometimes can’t be detected until vaccines are given to millions of people, multiple systems now are tracking recipients’ health so authorities can rapidly investigate any reported problems and determine if they’re related to the shots. So far, the vaccines have been given to more than 10 million people in the U.S. w
Associated Press
photo by: Associated Press
A Capitol Police vehicle with the Kansas Highway Patrol sits parked outside the Kansas Statehouse Thursday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. (Evert Nelson/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP)
Story updated at 12:47 p.m. Tuesday
TOPEKA (AP) State office buildings near the Statehouse have been closed to the public and the Legislature has curtailed its meetings due to security concerns ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.
The closures came in response to an FBI warning about the potential for armed protests nationwide following mob violence Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of President Donald Trump, encouraged by unfounded allegations of election fraud, stormed the building, interrupting Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory over Trump.
Kansas governor promises to beat COVID-19, rips violence and sedition at Capitol Dion Lefler and Katie Bernard, The Wichita Eagle
Jan. 13 Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly promised Tuesday that the end is in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic disruption it s caused, while calling for healing amid a fractured political landscape including destruction, violence, and sedition at the nation s Capitol. We can not let political fights slow us down, the governor said in her State of the State speech Tuesday night. In the weeks and months to come, we need to get every Kansan vaccinated. We need to get our economy moving. And we need to get all our kids back into the classroom.
John Hanna, Associated Press
photo by: AP File Photo
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly answers final questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic during a press briefing Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. (Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal via AP)
TOPEKA The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature is set to convene its annual session Monday with GOP leaders seeking to wrest control of policy from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly amid their ongoing disputes over how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The session’s 90 days will come amid early and mostly behind-the-scenes political jockeying for the 2022 governor’s race, with Republicans already testing campaign themes for their push to oust Kelly. Republican leaders believe they have a mandate to govern after voters preserved the party’s legislative supermajorities and elected more conservatives in last year’s elections.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature is set to convene its annual session Monday with GOP leaders seeking to wrest control of policy from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly amid their ongoing disputes over how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. The session’s 90 days will come amid early and mostly behind-the-scenes political jockeying for the 2022 governor’s race, with Republicans already testing campaign themes for their push.