COVID-19 Services

COVID-19 Vaccines

COVID vaccines offer protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID. Anyone aged 6 months and older is eligible for vaccination. The COVID-19 virus is constantly evolving, so vaccine recommendations may change in response. This is why we have an updated 2024-2025 vaccine this fall, similar to how the seasonal flu shot is updated each year.

Get Vaccinated at the Health Department

The Wyandotte County Public Health Department is now providing the updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccines. Call (913) 573-8855 to make an appointment.

The FDA approved and authorized new 2024-2025 COVID vaccines. The CDC recommends the updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older to protect against serious outcomes from COVID this fall and winter. The virus that causes COVID is always changing, and the updated 2024-2025 vaccine can give you better protection against current virus variants.  

Weekday Appointments and Walk-ins on Fridays

To schedule an appointment at the Wyandotte County Health Department, please call (913) 573-8855. If you reside in Wyandotte County, inquire about the availability of free transportation to and from your vaccine appointment.

Walk-ins are accepted on Fridays, 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM.

Insurance and Vaccine Coverage Information

Adults: We accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Point Comfort Underwriters insurances. Self-pay is also available for COVID vaccines. Additionally, the health department has a very limited supply of free COVID vaccines for people who are uninsured. Priority for the free doses will be given to uninsured prenatal clients, but anyone who needs this may call to ask about availability.

Children: We offer COVID vaccines for children ages 6 months and older through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. Children ages 18 and younger are eligible for VFC if they are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or are American Indian or Alaska Native. For children on private health insurance, we recommend visiting your pediatrician or primary care provider.

Fees

There is a $20 administration fee for COVID-19 vaccines. 

Get Your Flu & COVID Vaccines Together

Seasonal flu vaccines are available at the Wyandotte County Public Health Department for adults and children ages 6 months and older. You can get your COVID and flu vaccine at the same time. Make an appointment by calling (913) 573-8855, or walk in on Fridays between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM.

COVID-19 Testing

Get Free COVID Home Test Kits

Pick up locally: Available for pick-up at the Wyandotte County Public Health Department, 619 Ann Ave, Kansas City, KS 66101, Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

Order online (delivered to your home): As of late September 2024, the federal COVID test kit program started again. You can once again order free test kits to be mailed to your household at covidtests.gov.  

What are COVID Home Tests? 

COVID home tests, also called self-tests or over-the-counter tests, are a useful tool to help determine if you may be infected with COVID and provide results in 15-30 minutes. Self-tests for COVID-19 give rapid results and can be taken anywhere, regardless of your vaccination status or whether or not you have symptoms.

These tests can be bought over the counter at many retail stores. You can also pick up free home tests at the Wyandotte County Public Health Department, 619 Ann Ave, Kansas City, KS 66101, Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

Home tests are antigen tests. This is different from the PCR test that is usually offered at hospitals and public health testing sites. Antigen tests are usually reliable but sometimes less accurate than PCR tests. Antigen tests and PCR tests do not detect antibodies that would suggest a previous infection, and they do not measure your level of immunity.

Please note: Some expiration dates have been extended for FDA-authorized home COVID tests. See FDA COVID Home Test Information for details. 

Home Test Instructions

Other COVID Home Test Kits - If you got another type of home COVID test, see information on FDA-authorized home COVID tests, with links to instructions and more information.

Interpreting Home Test Results

Most COVID home test kits include a test card" or test cassette that displays your results in a small box with the labels "C" and "T (for "Control" and "Test"). Look for a line next to each letter.

The test is negative if only a C line appears. The test is positive if both a C line and a T line appear. The T line may be faint. If there is only a T line and no C line, or there is no line at all, the result is invalid, and you will need to take a new test.

Guidance if You Are Sick

In March 2024, the CDC released new recommendations about preventing the spread of respiratory viruses when you're sick. These steps can help reduce the spread of COVID and other illnesses, like flu and RSV. Recommendations include:

• Stay home and away from others when you are sick. This includes symptoms like fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache.
• Go back to normal activities once your symptoms improve overall for at least 24 hours, and you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
• When you go back to normal activities, take added precautions over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.