lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
The demand for COVID-19 vaccines continues to fall, and the county is thinking outside the box on ways to get the shots in arms.
Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said the county will offer a vaccine clinic at the Marshalltown Speedway on May 14.
“We are finding different ways to get the vaccine out,” she said. “The state asked us to think outside the box, something different than the big vaccine clinics at health care providers.”
Not only will Moderna vaccines be at the race track, but Thompson is scheduling some clinics at the Cartwright Farmers Market in a couple weeks.
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
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Marshall County was offered 600 vaccine doses this week but accepted only 200 and will only take 200 next week.
Marshall County has joined 79 other counties in Iowa which have denied some COVID-19 vaccinations.
Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said she only accepted 200 vaccine doses this week, and will only take 200 next week.
“I was offered 600,” she said. “Right now, we have more than we need.”
Thompson finds some irony in the situation as one month ago, she kept saying as soon as more vaccines are offered, Marshall County will take them. However, now she is turning some away as the demand has significantly dropped.
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Marshall County received 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines this week.
This week, Marshall County received 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, as opposed to the normal 500. However, 1,000 doses will not become the new normal.
Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said counties across the state have started to turn down vaccine shipments. She was asked at the last minute on Thursday if Marshall County could use some more.
“It was not expected,” Thompson said.
That was not including the 2,100 vaccinations received last week. Marshall County received the regular shipment of 500 doses and then was sent another 1,600, which was distributed among health care providers. Of those 1,600, 1,400 were sent to UnityPoint Marshalltown.
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
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A nurse draws full a syringe with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The demand for the vaccine in Marshall County has increased since eligibility opened, but the supply remains steady at 500 doses per week.
According to information from the Iowa Department of Public Health COVID-19 website, 8,732 Marshall County residents have received COVID-19 vaccinations.
Last week before vaccine eligibility was opened to everyone age 16 and older on Monday 7,356 residents had been dosed.
Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said even though the eligibility has opened considerably, the vaccine shipments remain at 500 per week. Fortunately, she said people are understanding about supply not meeting demand.
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Marshalltown resident Eldon Brittain receives his COVID-19 vaccine. He was in the wave of first recipients in the county.
Even though the state of Iowa opened the eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines on Monday, it was surprisingly calm in Marshall County.
Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said Monday was relatively uneventful, despite vaccine eligibility being opened to everyone age 16 and older. There were a couple cruxes in the mix for Marshall County, however.
First, the supply would not begin to meet the demand. The county has continued to receive shipments of 500 doses each week and that number has not increased. Second, only people who are 18 and older can get vaccinated in Marshall County.