Governor appoints member to Postsecondary Technical Education Authority

Governor Laura Kelly appointed Dr. Tiffany Anderson to the Postsecondary Technical Education Authority.

“Dr. Anderson is the right choice for this important assignment,” Kelly said. “She’s highly qualified, driven, and knows education at every level, to include higher education.”

Currently, Anderson serves as superintendent for the Topeka public schools district, USD 501. She also served as a school superintendent in Missouri and Virginia. Since 2003, she’s been an adjunct professor in the Department of Educational Leadership for Kansas State University. Anderson received her doctorate and master’s degree in education leadership and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Saint Louis University, Mo.

Dr. Anderson currently resides in Overland Park. She succeeds Sabrina Korentager.

The authority is composed of 12 members. Four members are appointed by the Kansas Board of Regents. Three members are be appointed by the governor. One member is appointed by the president of the Senate, and one member is appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Regarding the governor’s appointments, one represents Kansas business and industry, and two represent the general public.

Hep A and Meningococcal Vaccines to be required for 2019-20 School Year

Vaccine changes effective August 2

Two new vaccines will be required for school-age children for the 2019-20 School Year: Meningococcal and Hepatitis A. KDHE proposed changes to the vaccine requirement regulations earlier this year and held a public hearing concluding a 60-day public comment period in June. The regulations were approved by KDHE and will go into effect on August 2.

“We received many comments and input from all viewpoints,” KDHE Secretary Lee Norman said. “We listened and read all of the input and concerns submitted to us. We looked at the evidence. Both Meningitis and Hepatitis A illnesses are severe and preventable, and the safety profile of the vaccines is well-recognized. As an agency charged to establish policies that protect and improve the lives of Kansans, we felt the addition of the two vaccines was essential for the health and safety of our state.”

Changes for 2019-20 School Year

• Students entering Kindergarten and Grade 1 for the 2019 -2020 school year now need two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine.
• Students entering Grade 7 for the 2019-2020 school year need one dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.
• Students entering Grade 11 need one dose of the meningococcal ACWY vaccine if not vaccinated prior to their 16^th birthday. They will need two doses if their first dose was before their 16^th birthday.

Vaccine requirements for schools can be found online at: http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/schoolInfo.htm.

About the Vaccines

Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine

The meningococcal ACWY vaccine protects against meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease has two common outcomes: meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and bloodstream infections. The bacteria that cause meningococcal disease spread through the exchange of nose and throat droplets, such as when coughing, sneezing, or kissing. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. With bloodstream infection, symptoms also include a dark purple rash. About one of every 10 people who gets the disease dies from it. Survivors of meningococcal disease may lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have problems with their nervous systems, become developmentally disabled, or suffer seizures or strokes.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

The hepatitis A vaccine protects against the hepatitis A virus. The virus is spread primarily person to person through the fecal-oral route. In other words, the virus is taken in by mouth from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces (stool) of an infected person. Symptoms can include fever, tiredness, poor appetite, vomiting, stomach pain and sometimes jaundice (when skin and eyes turn yellow). An infected person may have no symptoms, may have mild illness for a week or two, may have severe illness for several months, or may rarely develop liver failure and die from the infection. In the U.S., about 100 people a year die from hepatitis A.

Exemptions from Vaccines

There are exemptions to vaccines. In accordance with KSA 72-6262, legal alternatives to vaccination requirements include medical contraindications and religious beliefs. The medical exemptions signed by a medical clinician must be submitted on an annual basis by the family/guardian of the student.  There could also be instances in which a person has a religious belief that prevents them from receiving a particular vaccination.  The parent/guardian of the student must submit a written statement indicating they are adherent of a religious denomination whose religious teachings are opposed to such vaccination. The school board or governing body for nonpublic schools are responsible for ensuring compliance with the regulations and statutes.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces that Dr. John Esslinger has been named as the State Medicaid Medical Director. This position had previously been vacant.

“We are thrilled that Dr. Esslinger has decided to join our team,” said Adam Proffit, KDHE Medicaid Director.  “His vast experience, both as a clinician, as well as several years of direct involvement with KanCare, will have a tremendous impact on the members we serve.”

Dr. Esslinger is a graduate of the University of Minnesota for both his undergraduate and medical degrees. His specialty training was at Children’s Mercy through UMKC in Kansas City. He is board certified in Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. He practiced for 12 years at Omaha Children’s Hospital and subsequently was the Vice President for Medical Affairs for that facility.

Dr. Esslinger has been in managed care since 1999 and has experience in commercial and government programs. He has focused primarily on government programs, mostly Medicaid, since 2008, but he has also had experience in the insurance brokerage industry at Lockton in Kansas City.  He has been employed by managed care plans in Kansas since 2014.

“I am delighted to be part of KDHE. I am confident that I can contribute to the department’s mission of providing quality, cost-effective care to Kansas citizens,” Dr. Esslinger said.