184th Med Group vaccinates Kansas Soldiers

Air Force Senior Airman Cami Saville, right, 184^th Medical Group, administers the COVID-19 vaccination to Army Specialist Naomi Hatfield, left, 635^th Regional Support Group, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Feb. 21. Hatfield is one of 30 Army National Guard members who received the first and second dose of the vaccination by the 184^th MDG. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)

Airmen assigned to the 184^th Medical Group administered COVID-19 vaccinations to 30 Soldiers from the 635^th Regional Support Group, Kansas Army National Guard, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Feb. 21.

The shots were the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination and were given only to those who volunteered for the immunization series.

Capt. Kaitlyn Short, a nurse assigned to the 184^th MDG, coordinated the effort between the two units.

“We have a vaccination working group for the entire Kansas National Guard, both Army and Air,” said Short. “Those meetings happen every week and that’s where we discuss who’s getting vaccines, what events we plan, and where they’re happening.”

Short is a Drill Status Guardsman who temporarily served full-time to help the Public Health office during the pandemic.

“We joined with the Army National Guard since they’re also here in Wichita,” said Short. “Since we have the facility, the fridge and the freezer that can hold the vaccine, we partnered with them to help their unit out and get them vaccinated along with some Air personnel as well.”

Senior Airman Skyler Craft, 184^th Medical Group, prepares syringes for administering COVID-19 vaccinations to 30 Soldiers assigned to the 635^th Regional Support Group, Kansas National Guard, Feb. 21. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)

The Soldiers arrived by bus and filed into the Medical Group’s building for registration and screening.

“We have to do the screen form every time to make sure they still answer the questions appropriately and they don’t have any further issues or concerns with getting the vaccine,” said Short. “Then we send them through the vaccination line, get the vaccination administered, and then we monitor them for the recovery period of 15 to 30 minutes.”

Short is still working with the vaccination group to coordinate with other Army and Air National Guard units for the first and second dose of the immunization.

The 184^th Medical Group is a section within the 184^th Wing, Kansas Air National Guard. Many Airmen assigned to the 184^th MDG are also employed as civilian medical professionals throughout Kansas.

Air Force Senior Airman Skyler Craft, 184^th Medical Group, administers the COVID-19 vaccination to a Soldier assigned to the 635^th Regional Support Group, Kansas National Guard, Feb. 21. The 184^th MDG is assigned to the 184^th Wing, Kansas Air National Guard at McConnell Air Force Base. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)

Previous article: Jayhawk Spotlight: Lt. Col. Herman "TC" Norwood