Health

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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon recently received a large donation of hand-made baby blankets from Cindy Hertrampf of rural Monona. Many of the blankets are pictured above with Cindy and will be given to young patients in maternity services, the emergencey room, surgery and in-patient areas of the hospital. Many will also be offered for sale in the hospital gift case, which is managed by the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Submitted photo.

Following the Emergency Use Authorization of both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is partnering with county public health departments to vaccinate Iowans. Both vaccines are currently being administered in Iowa to the Phase 1A priority populations of health care personnel and long-term care residents and staff.

As more vaccines become available, Iowa’s Infectious Disease Advisory Council (IDAC), will review guidance issued by the CDC’s advisory group, the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP), to further prioritize populations to receive the vaccine in Iowa. IDAC is currently reviewing ACIP recommendations for Phase 1B and 1C priority populations.

The Caregiver Support Group meetings that were held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon continue to be held through conference calls during the COVID-19 pandemic. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.

To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847# to be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory Nona Hansmeier by Marvin and Marjorie Strike, Beverly Shafer, Ryan and Kari Smith, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Roger and Jeanette Ruegnitz, Randy and Karen Loeb, Dave and Laurie Martin, Fred and Geralyn Smith, Jan Brandsmeier, Betty Hogan, Rev.

COVID-19 vaccine has been received by Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Allamakee Public Health, which has since been busy vaccinating the Tier 1A group of health care workers who have been approved to receive this first round of vaccine. Veterans Memorial Hospital staff has responded well this last week in getting the vaccine. Pictured above is Sheryl Darling-Mooney, RN, Public Health Supervisor of Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care receiving her vaccine, being administered by Summer Garin, RN. The Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Public Health office will keep the public informed as changes are made in the tier groups and they can expand those who qualify to receive the vaccine.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, January 7 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with blood and blood products. Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution this year.

The need for blood has not stopped during COVID-19 and is in even higher demand, so the local blood drives continue to be held. LifeServe team members only report to work if they are healthy, and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood. Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation, and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during COVID-19.