Special to the News Chronicle
Tama County Public Health (TCPH) announced this week they are looking to compile a list of residents in Tama County aged 75 or over who are interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
TCPH will be moving to Phase 1-B of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the coming weeks which includes all persons over the age of 75. One of the requirements TCPH needs to follow is that a minimum of 50% of Phase 1-B vaccinations be delivered to persons within the 75-and-over category.
Officials say that appointments for vaccinations of Phase 1-B populations are not being scheduled at this time but those being placed on a waiting list will be notified to schedule an appointment once they are available.
IPR
Nola Aigner-Davis is the public information officer for the Polk County Public Health Department. She says their 42-person team is anticipating COVID-19 vaccine distribution to be challenging.
The work that people in public health do is often not very visible to the general public, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit last March, many were thrown into the spotlight seemingly overnight.
Wayne County Public Health Department Administrator Shelley Bickel was supposed to be retired by now.
Following a three-decade public health career in neighboring Decatur County, Bickel retired in 2018, only to be convinced by a Wayne County supervisor to spend just one more year running their department part-time.
Special to the News Chronicle
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 begin vaccinating 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.
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Penny Tyynismaa (Left) a Maternal/Child RN at Tama County Public Health administers the first COVID-19 vaccine to Registerd RN, Claire Shefchick Wednesday morning.
Wednesday marked an exciting day for Tama County Public Health as they administered their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Claire Schefchick, a Registered nurse at Tama County Public Health was the first to receive the vaccine.
Tama County received doses of their first doses of the Moderna vaccine earlier this week. The Meskwaki Health Clinic received its initial Moderna shipment from Indian Health Services (IHS) and have begun administering the vaccine as of Monday following the phases outlined by IHS.
Special to the News Chronicle
As we get closer to receiving a COVID-19 Vaccine in our county, the Tama County Health Department reminds all residents the initial doses of vaccine will be limited and will be available to populations prioritized according to guidance received from our state and federal partners.
“The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has preemptively suggested the initial doses of vaccine go to health care providers and those in long term care facilities,” said Shannon Zoffka, CEO of Tama County Public Health & Home Care. “As more vaccine becomes available, we will be able to offer the vaccine to more people.”