Allamakee County Public Health provides COVID-19 vaccine update; Phase 1-B priority group redefined by Iowa DPH

Iowa is currently vaccinating individuals with the COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 1-A, which includes health care personnel and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. With the vaccination of Phase 1-A moving closer to completion, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) says it is time to focus attention on Phase 1-B.

The IDPH has updated the Phase 1-B priority group to include Iowans age 65 and over, broadened from an original age range of 75 years and older. However, vaccine remains in short supply, especially in the state of Iowa, where Governor Kim Reynolds revealed in her Thursday, January 21 press conference that Iowa ranks 46th out of 50 states in vaccine received from federal allotments. This means not everyone in Phase 1-B will be able to get the vaccine right away once that phase begins.

To help balance vaccine supply with the Phase 1-B demands, IDPH has implemented a tiered prioritization approach, outlined in the diagram at right. IDPH remains in close contact with its federal partners to communicate Iowa’s need for additional vaccines.

Allamakee County Public Health wants residents to know that there is no waiting list to be put on to receive the vaccine. Plans are being developed to hold immunization clinics throughout the county, but local public health officials are currently unable to finalize schedules for these clinics until the vaccine is received in Allamakee County. As local officials know more information, they will continue to keep the public informed and they ask local residents to refer to local media outlets such as the newspaper, radio, social media and the Veterans Memorial Hospital webpage for updated news and information on upcoming vaccination clinics.

As always, residents are advised to continue following 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 feeling ill.