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Iowa is currently vaccinating individuals in Phase 1A, which includes health care personnel and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. With the vaccination of Phase 1A moving closer to completion, it is time to focus attention on Phase 1B.
Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has updated the Phase 1B priority group to include Iowans age 65 and over; however, vaccine remains in short supply. This means not everyone in Phase 1B will be able to get vaccine right away.
To help balance vaccine supply with the Phase 1B demands, IDPH has implemented a tiered prioritization, outlined in the diagram accompanying this article. IDPH remains in close contact with its federal partners to communicate Iowa’s need for additional vaccines.

Clifton O. Christianson, 86, of Waukon died Thursday, January 21, 2021 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Private family graveside services along with military honors were held in Bethlehem Cemetery in rural Postville with Karla Johnson officiating. Cards may be sent to Charlotte Christianson at 603 First Street NE, Waukon, IA 52172. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.

Clifton Ordel Christianson was born December 8, 1934 in Center Township, rural Elon, the son of Andrew and Hilma (Larson) Christianson. He was baptized and confirmed at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville and attended Fan school. When he was 16 years old, his father died and Cliff took over the family operation for his mother. Cliff served in the United States Navy from 1955 to 1957; while in the Navy, he received his GED.

COVID-19 Phase 1-A
Iowa is currently still in Phase 1-A of administering the COVID-19 vaccine and intends to finish this group within the next week. This includes healthcare workers and long-term care residents and staff. If you are included in this tier group and have not yet received your vaccination, contact Allamakee County Public Health at 563-568-5660 to schedule an appointment.

COVID-19 Phase 1-B
The Iowa Department of Public Health recently shared the following guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine priority populations for Phase 1-B, based on the recommendations put forward by the Iowa Disease Advisory Council (IDAC).

Due to the current and short-term projections for vaccine allocation for Iowa, IDAC recommends the following, more narrowly defined, eligible populations for Phase 1-B:

Veterans Memorial Hospital was made aware last week that a few people in the community had received a phone call, from a hospital phone number, stating they were calling from Amazon on an order and needed to verify the account.

The hospital would like to alert the public that they are in no way involved with any type of Amazon account or making any such calls. This is a scam.  All calls made from Veterans Memorial Hospital actually show as “Unknown” on a caller ID system.

For any questions on any phone calls you may have suspiciously received from the hospital, feel free to call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 for more information.
 

Empty Nest Winery of Waukon recently donated $500 to the Veterans Memorial Hospital Radiology Department for the Mammography Fund. This donation came from the proceeds of the “Radiant Strength” pink moscato wine sales last October at Empty Nest Winery. That wine is a favorite at Empty Nest and was sold by them as a limited edition wine in an effort to support breast cancer prevention. Pictured above, left to right, in the hospital’s mammography room is Veterans Memorial Hospital X-ray technicians Siobhan Kurth, Keisha Coon and Kelly Baxter, Pam Kruger of Empty Nest Winery, and Veterans Memorial Hospital X-ray technicians Rachel Wagner and Renee Stokman. Submitted photo.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Jack Marsden by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Frank and Patty Goltz, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Patsy Kerndt, Dave and Laurie Martin, Les and Ada Marie Kerndt, Brad and Erin Berns and Mary Ann Hager.

Memorials were also received in memory of Dan Hansmeier by Dave and Laurie Martin, Tom and Karen Regan, and Jerry and Linda Siegrist; in memory of Lois Hermeier by James and Mary Winters, and in memory of Mavis Mitchell by David and Suzanne Hahn, DVM, Betty White and Ernest and Donnalee Osland.

Memorials were also given in memory of Doris Berns by Scott and Karen Ness, Maury Mooney, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Ken and Rose Beardmore, Marlys Leiran and Jane Dietrich.

The family of Kenneth and Janice McCormick of Lansing is celebrating the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary with a card shower. The couple married January 23, 1971 at Immaculate Conception Church in Lansing.  

They have four children: Shannon Stone, Dustin McCormick, Colby McCormick, and Ian (Amy) McCormick, and nine grandchildren: Mason (Sarah) Stone, Brenden Krogan, Michelle Miller, Reagen McCormick, Leora Barrette, Brecken McCormick, Cael Rethwisch, Leo McCormick and Ezra McCormick.  

In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to 111 Gay Street, Lansing, IA 52151.

Agnes Anderson of Waukon will be celebrating a milestone birthday January 22.

In honor of the occasion, cards and well wishes may be sent to her at 110 12th Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.

Heather and Devin Berger of Waukon announce the birth of their daughter, Violet Rose Berger, born September 11, 2020 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. She weighed 7 lbs. 11 ozs. and measured 21 inches in length at the time of her birth. She joins a sister, Scarlett (11).

Grandparents are Brian and Terry LaRue of Decorah, the late Craig Fee, Lisa Berger of Barneveld, WI and Rusty Hagensick of Lansing. Great-grandparents are Gus and Jeanie Berger of Waukon, Ruth (Lee) Feuerhelm of Lansing, Delores Fee of New Albin, Pete Fee of Rulo, NE, Roger and Pat LaRue of La Crescent, MN and Jack and Sally Hagensick of Waukon.

Abigail Hinck of Waukon announces the birth of her son, Lincoln Tyler Hinck, born January 9, 2021 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. He weighed 6 lbs. and measured 19 inches in length at the time of his birth. Ashlea Martens of Waukon is a grandparent. Great-grandparents are Shelia and Richard Martens of Lime Springs.