Allamakee County Public Health provides vaccine update

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:

Persons aged 75 years and above, or the following populations vulnerable to high risk of exposure or severity of illness:
• Individuals with disabilities living in home settings whom are dependent on attendant care staff, and their attendant care staff, if not otherwise vaccinated under Phase 1-A.
• Correctional facility staff and individuals incarcerated, including state and city or county operated facilities.
• Staff of and individuals living in congregate settings, not covered by the first two bullets, including shelters, sober living homes, behavioral health treatment centers, and detention centers. College dormitories shall not be included as part of Phase 1-B.
• Where public health data indicates outbreaks or clusters of disease among food, agriculture, distribution and manufacturing workers whom work in or live in congregate settings that do not allow for social distancing. For example, working in a meatpacking or manufacturing production line or migrant workers whom live in bunkroom style housing.
• PK-12 school staff, early childhood education, and childcare workers. Sub-prioritization should consider persons who work with younger and at-risk children in care, to better ensure child well-being and mitigate impact to parent workforce.
• First responders (e.g., firefighters, police officers, and dependent adult abuse and child welfare social workers).

Allamakee County will move to Phase 1-B once vaccine is received. Based on what we currently know, vaccination of the Phase 1-B populations will begin no later than the first part of February and will take several weeks to complete. This timeline is subject to change.

We will release more detailed information soon on where Phase 1-B populations in Allamakee County can receive their vaccines. Many of these vaccines may possibly be administered via public health clinics throughout the various communities in our county, employer-based clinics, pharmacies and medical clinic offices that are equipped to handle screening and scheduling for vaccination efforts. Our office will be partnering with these providers to ensure the 1-B population has access to the vaccine when it becomes available.

Please note that there is no waiting list of names to receive the vaccine. Follow social media and watch and listen to local news outlets and radio for updated information on upcoming vaccination clinics.

Once Iowa has reasonable confidence that supply meets the demands of CDC eligibility criteria, we will activate the broader distribution criteria from CDC, such as including the 65 and above age group. It is our goal to reach all residents within Allamakee County as vaccine allows.

While the vaccine is still a scarce resource, continue to follow these safeguards:
• Wear a mask or face covering when in public
• Practice social distancing with anyone outside of your household
• Wash your hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer
• Stay home if you are feeling unwell.