Next state vaccination phase set Feb. 1, but local specifics still unknown

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination is slated to begin Feb. 1 in Iowa, but when it will start in specific counties and how much vaccine will be available are still unclear.

Floyd County Public Health posted information on its Facebook page recently announcing the groups included in Phase 1B.

Originally planned to include persons age 75 and older, Phase 1B now includes everyone age 65 years and older.

“Authorization has been given to vaccinate this group beginning Feb. 1,” Floyd County Public Health said, but added, “However, vaccine remains in short supply. This means not everyone in Phase 1B, including those 65 years of age or older, will be able to receive vaccine right away.”

Floyd County Supervisor Linda Tjaden said no call-in signup has been started yet.

“We’re trying to get prepared,” she said Monday. “But until we know how much vaccine we have that we’ve being provided, we really don’t want to start that process.”

Tjaden said Gail Arjes, the Floyd County Public Health administrator, has been working with the Floyd County Medical Center and private pharmacies such as Hy-Vee to help put a plan together “so it isn’t just on the shoulders of county health.”

The Iowa Department of Public Health has implemented tiered prioritization levels within Phase 1B to help assist with handling supply and demand.

Once the vaccine distribution begins, persons age 65 and older will be eligible for the vaccine during any tier.

The order of distribution for Phase 1B will be:

Tier 1 — First responders such as firefighters, police officers and child welfare social workers; and pre-kindergarten to 12th-grade school staff, early childhood education and child care workers.

Tier 2 — Food, agriculture, distribution and manufacturing workers who work in or live in congregate settings that do not allow for social distancing; and individuals with disabilities living in home settings and their direct care staff.

Tier 3 — Staff of and individuals living in congregate settings (does not include college dormitories); and government officials to ensure continuity of government including staff, engaged in state business at the Iowa Capitol during the legislative session.

Tier 4 — Inspectors responsible for hospital, long-term care and child safety.

Tier 5 — Correctional facility staff and individuals incarcerated.

“Again, Floyd County Public Health does not when or how much vaccine we will be receiving,” the county organization said, advising people to keep following its Facebook page and news sources for updates.

Phase 1A, which started Dec. 28, included long-term care facility residents and staff and other medical and health professionals and staff, including the staff at the Floyd County Medical Center.

Most or all of the persons who were in Phase 1A should have received both required doses of the vaccine by now.

The next phase, Phase 1C, for more general populations, will begin “in the spring,” the Iowa Department of Public Health said, but no more specific date or list of persons eligible was available.

The Iowa COVID-19 website shows that as of Monday, 932 residents of Floyd County have received at least first doses of the vaccine, and the county has administered 407 doses. There are 189 county residents who have received both required doses.

As of Monday the 14-day rolling average positivity rate for COVID-19 tests was 9.8% in Floyd County, and the 7-day rolling positivity rate average was 8.3%.

There have been 1,419 total positive cases identified in Floyd County, out of 6,751 individuals tested. Thirty-six people have died related to COVID-19, with 28 having the disease as the underlying cause of death and eight it being a contributing factor.

The last deaths in the county listed as connected to COVID-19 were two deaths on Jan. 4.