By Sue Danielson
Apr 14, 2021
(Linn County, IA) The Linn County Public Health Department is planning a 24-hour COVID-19 vaccination clinic this weekend. The event is at the DoubleTree by Hilton Alliant Energy Convention Center, 350 1stAvenue NE, Cedar Rapids, 2ndFloor – Ballroom A & B
Organizers say appointments must be made in advance, but the clinic will be open starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 17th through 9 a.m. Sunday. The second doses will be given May 8-9.
Registrations can be made by following this LINK. or by calling 319-892-6097
Those attending are asked to enter thru the main hotel entrance. Parking is available in the Convention Center Parking Ramp across First Avenue from the hotel. In this ramp, parking is free for the first 60 minutes and $.75 for each hour after.
North Albany resident Karen Fitzgerald had many rewarding moments during her 42 years as a registered nurse, serving communities from New Hampshire to Oregon.
But Fitzgerald says her volunteer work at the Linn County Public Health Departmentâs COVID-19 vaccination clinics the last two months has been extremely gratifying.
âI just want to help,â Fitzgerald said. âI love it. Everyone is so grateful they can get immunized. It really makes people happy, and they frequently thank the volunteers.â
Fitzgerald retired in 2019 and signed up with the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers (serv-or.org) this January.
Thursday morning Fitzgerald was one of more than 50 volunteers assisting with a clinic at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center, one of four clinics held during the week. Her job for the day was filling syringes with vaccine doses.
ALEX PAUL
Linn County residents in the stateâs 1a vaccination category can get COVID-19 shots Wednesday at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center in Albany, according to Public Health Director Todd Noble.
As of Monday morning, Noble said there were about 1,000 doses available in addition to some 1,800 to 2,000 doses set aside for area educators. Vaccinations will be given from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
âWe gave educators a day or two head start and we still have openings,â Noble said. âThere should be plenty of vaccines for child care providers, teachers and day care centers.â
Noble said the vaccines, provided by the Oregon Health Authority and Samaritan Health Services, âarenât just for teachers. They are for all school personnel.â