Flu vaccine is out there – but where?
Here are today’s headlines from Kansas government:The issues(KHI News Service) No shortage of flu vaccine this year; but numbers sparse on how many get it: There’s no shortage of the influenza vaccine this year, but there’s no way to know how many Kansans will actually be vaccinated. Though manufacturing problems caused shortages of the vaccine the past two years, there should be ample supply now, health officials said. Four factories are expected to produce about 115 million doses by the end of flu season in March 2007. Yet there’s no way of estimating how many doses will be distributed to and administered to Kansans, said State Epidemiologist Dr. Gail Hansen. That’s because the number of doses is considered proprietary information by the manufacturers and they are not required to disclose it.(LJW) State issues debt certificates: Like many Kansas families, the state experiences cash flow problems this time of year. So on Thursday, state leaders approved issuing $200 million in what are called certificates of indebtedness.(Garden City Telegram) New wind farm announced: Sunflower Electric Power Corp. announced Wednesday its plans to purchase 50.4 megawatts of wind energy from TradeWind Energy, LLC. The energy will be generated by wind turbines at TradeWind’s Smoky Hills Wind Farm, located 25 miles west of Salina, between Ellsworth and Lincoln. The deal is part of a 20-year renewable energy purchase agreement between the two companies.(LJW) State pilot program focuses on pregnancy health: Following a successful demonstration project in Douglas County, SRS is expanding the Health in Pregnancy program to include Barton, Ellis and Sedgwick counties. “It’s very important that we intervene early,” SRS Secretary Gary Daniels said at a conference Thursday in Lawrence. “I don’t know if we could intervene any earlier.” Since the program began in Lawrence, local organizations have referred 12 women to it, seven of whom enrolled. Currently, the program serves four Douglas County women.Gov. Kathleen Sebelius(LJW) Sebelius vows plan on university repairs: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Thursday said she would make a proposal to address a backlog of $727 million worth of repairs at the state’s universities.Kansas Legislature(Topeka Capital-Journal) Statehouse renovation costs increase: A new cost analysis of the Kansas Capitol renovation Thursday pushed the price tag at least $40 million above the original estimate and tacked on an additional year for completion of the restoration.(Topeka Capital-Journal) Mays steps down after 14-years: House Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, signed a stack of documents Thursday as the final official duty of his legislative career.

