A year since powerful winds blew through the state and caused historic devastation in Eastern Iowa, many people who were in the path remain struggling with trauma the Aug, 10,
Published May 7, 2021 at 4:34 PM CDT Listen • 45:43
IPR
On Wednesday, in regards to Iowans missing their second shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Kim Reynolds said even if you re overdue for your second dose, don t worry about that. It s more important that you get it late than not at all.
On this edition of
River to River, Michaela Ramm of the Gazette shares her reporting on Iowans missing their second doses of COVID-19 vaccine and the challenge of vaccine hesitancy.
Also, IPR’s Kassidy Arena on how groups in Iowa plan to meet the challenge of an anticipated increase in refugees. And Jason Clayworth of Axios Des Moines tells listeners about the struggle to recruit law enforcement officers in Des Moines.
By Michaela Ramm, Special to the Globe Gazette
Nearly a quarter of individuals who initiated the COVID-19 vaccine series in Iowa have missed their second dose, according to state public health officials, potentially throwing a wrench in the race toward herd immunity.
More than 66,000 people as of Sunday have skipped or delayed the second shot in a two-dose vaccine series, according to data from the Iowa Department of Human Services. Of the 275,013 individuals who have received the first shot of the series, 66,490 did not receive a second shot within the recommended time frame.
The minimum interval between doses for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 21 days. For Moderna, itâs 28 days.
By Michaela Ramm, Special to the Globe Gazette
While the rate of adolescents receiving the first shot of the HPV vaccine increased statewide, new data shows the rate of young Iowans actually completing the two-dose series declined in 2019.
Experts say thereâs potential the COVID-19 pandemic could further decrease these vaccination rates, which has caused a similar declining trend in other routine childhood immunizations in Iowa and nationwide, according to studies from a major health insurance federation.
A new report published Tuesday by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association analyzed HPV vaccination rates over a three-year period for commercially insured populations nationwide that are between the ages of 10 and 13 years.