COVID-19 vaccine is readily available in Allamakee County

For those not yet vaccinated, Allamakee County Public Health does have a good supply of vaccine and is highly encouraging everyone to receive it. Vaccine clinics are readily available every Friday afternoon for both prime and boost doses for Moderna. Currently, Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine is also available. These clinics are held at the main entrance to Veterans Memorial Hospital. Call 563-568-5660 to schedule an appointment.

The risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 far outweighs any benefits of natural immunity. The COVID-19 vaccine, which is readily available locally, creates an antibody (immune system) response without having to experience sickness.

COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications and there is no way to know how it will affect anyone. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), clinical trials for all vaccines must first show they are safe and effective before any vaccine can be authorized or approved for use, including COVID-19 vaccines.

Getting COVID-19 may offer some protection, known as natural immunity.  Current evidence, as shared by the CDC, suggests that re-infections with the virus is uncommon in the months after initial infection, but may increase with time.

According to the CDC, once vaccinated for COVID-19, you can again gather indoors without masks with others who are fully vaccinated, and limit social distancing. This can begin two weeks following your second or final COVID-19 vaccination.  Keep using all personal protective tools until that two-week wait time has expired.

Allamakee Public Health (Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care), located at 40 First Street SE in Waukon, currently has Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine available for ages 18 and older. Call 563-568-5660 to schedule an appointment.

Both Hartig Drug and Nightingale Pharmacy in Waukon have vaccine available for ages 12 and older. Parental/guardian consent is required. Call ahead to schedule an appointment.

As stated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the COVID-19 vaccination will help keep you from getting COVID-19.

• All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be safe and effective at preventing COVID-19.
• All COVID-19 vaccines that are in development are being carefully evaluated in clinical trials and will be authorized or approved only if they make it substantially less likely you will get COVID-19.
• Based on what we know about vaccines for other diseases and early data from clinical trials, experts believe that getting a COVID-19 vaccine also helps keep you from getting seriously ill, even if you do get COVID-19.
• Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness, from COVID-19.
• Experts continue to conduct studies to learn more about how COVID-19 vaccination may reduce spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Watch the Veterans Memorial Hospital website at www.veteransmemorialhospital.com and the Veterans Memorial Hospital Facebook page for upcoming clinic details for COVIC vaccinations.