-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
James Coleman, who has been a substitute teacher at Fort Dodge Senior High School for 11 years, was glad to be one of the first teachers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine Friday. -Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Jenny Litwiller, an elementary English Language Learner teacher, looks at her U.S. Centers for Disease Control vaccination record card after her first COVID-19 shot Friday. After a difficult year, she hopes it’s a first step towards being able to do normal things, like visit her mother and have family gatherings. -Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Susan Keller, a special education teacher at Fort Dodge Senior High, was among the very first group of teachers to receive their COVID-19 vaccine Friday as Webster County rolls out Phase 1B of the vaccination effort.
County health departments report low stock ahead of expanded vaccination group
As more Iowans become eligible for the vaccine, local health department leaders don t have nearly enough doses to administer. Author: Sarah Beckman, Lakyn McGee Published: 5:19 PM CST January 28, 2021 Updated: 11:06 PM CST January 28, 2021
IOWA, USA More than half a million Iowans will become eligible to schedule an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Feb. 1, but many local health departments say it will take weeks to make a dent in that number at the rate they are receiving the vaccine.
In Marshall County, which has 7,200 residents ages 65 and older, the county health department reports it is getting 400 doses for next week.
Changes announced by Gov. Kim Reynolds Thursday morning mean that 6,587 Webster County residents 65 and older would fit into the new Phase 1B of COVID-19 vac
Jan 21, 2021
Public health departments may be divided by county lines, but area departments have been working hand-in-hand to support one another.
Last week, the Calhoun County Health Department completed its Phase 1A of COVID-19 vaccinations, but still had a few remaining vials. Calhoun County Health Department Director Barb Riley contacted Webster County Health Department (WCPH) Director Kari Prescott and offered the remaining vials to WCPH.
“We are thankful for Barb and Calhoun County Health Department and their willingness to help our Webster County Phase 1A populations,” said Prescott. “These doses were used right away to continue vaccinating our Phase 1A health care workers.”
How inclement weather may impact COVID vaccine distribution
Friday s snowstorm didn t impact vaccine shipments in Iowa, but officials said they re prepared if a future storm does. Author: Rachel Droze Updated: 6:41 PM CST January 15, 2021
DES MOINES, Iowa Winter weather could slow down the nation s mass vaccination effort, but those handling logistics of the distribution in Iowa said they re trying their best not to let that happen. We ve got our planning done, our community is ready, our partners are ready, so we re just waiting, Webster County Health Department Director Kari Prescott said.
A spokesperson from FedEx said they haven t had reports of shipping delays in the Des Moines area following Friday s snowstorm.