January 19, 2021
Northwest Iowa We’re getting closer and closer to the day when we can all get vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Iowa Department of Public Health says that we are in Phase 1A until February 1st. Phase 1A is long-term care residents and healthcare personnel with direct patient contact who are unable to telework, including those who work in inpatient, outpatient, or community settings, who provide services to patients or patient’s family members, or who handle infectious materials. Health care personnel are defined as paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials. This includes EMTs, volunteers, hospice workers, and more.
Vust says it’s still extremely important to wash your hands frequently, wear a mask and practice social distancing, especially before the vaccinations have been administered to the general public. He also says that this year it is especially important that everyone gets a flu shot.
December 18, 2020
Sheldon, Iowa Earlier this week the first doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Iowa.
Dr. Ryan Becker, of Sanford Sheldon, says the first doses are going to frontline healthcare providers.
(As above) “Initially the vaccines are prioritized for the frontline healthcare and long-term care residents, until we get enough doses that we can make it available to the general population. So it’s going to be, basically, those that are working the hospital, the clinic, your firefighters, your EMT personnel and then nursing home residents.
Dr. Becker addressed the issue of the vaccine’s safety.
(As above) “This vaccine has gone through several different trials. When it comes to looking at, both it’s efficacy..so how effective is it…but then also at its safety, too. And it’s been shown to be incredibly safe. I know there’s a lot concern and speculation out there, too…all kinds of different things that have been thrown out, whether it be on the dif