Washington Co. Public Health provides vaccine updates

By Mary Zielinski
Posted 1/19/21

On Thursday, Jan. 14, Washington County Public Health Administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski provided an update on COVID-19 vaccinations in the county.

The county public health department received …

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Washington Co. Public Health provides vaccine updates

Posted

On Thursday, Jan. 14, Washington County Public Health Administrator Danielle Pettit-Majewski provided an update on COVID-19 vaccinations in the county.

The county public health department received its first shipment of the Moderna vaccine on Dec. 22 and has started vaccinating those in 1A priority, which includes front line healthcare workers. Vaccinations for long-term care residents and their healthcare workers are being done through pharmacy agreements, not by public health.

Those set to be vaccinated are selected following the recommendations set by the federal government, based on the availability of the vaccine and clinical trial outcomes.  The department does not have control over priority groups.

Phase 1A is long term care residents, long-term care workers and healthcare workers with direct patient care.

Washington County Public Health (WCPH) will have direct contact with local providers to schedule vaccinations.

In additional vaccine rollout, Phase 1B will be persons aged 75 or older; first responders (firefighters, police officers, adult abuse and child welfare social workers), PK-12 school staff, early childhood educators and childcare workers; individuals with disabilities living at home who are depending on attendant care  and their attendants (if not already vaccinated under 1A); correctional facility staff and inmates; staff for and individuals living in congregate settings; and government officials engaged in state business at the Iowa Capitol during legislative session.

For others, it is expected that by mid-year there will be sufficient vaccine for anyone who wants it; however, WCPH does not control priority groups.

Phase 1C will be additional essential workers, individuals aged 65-74 and those aged 18-74 with high-risk medical conditions.

Individuals who have already had COVID-19 are eligible for the vaccine if in a specified priority group and are not actively ill, in quarantine or in isolation.

As of now, WCPH is the only provider of vaccine in the county; there is no waiting list.  However, as new priority groups become effective, WCPH will announce who meets the criteria.

At this time, the Pfizer vaccine is approved for those 16 years and older. The Moderna vaccine is for those 18 years and older. Currently WCPH does not know when a vaccine will be approved for children.

After being vaccinated, individuals are asked to continue following health recommendations: wearing a mask around people outside your household, keeping social distance and quarantine post-exposure.

More information is available at washph.com, where there are links to the Iowa Department of Public Health, the CDC and the WCPH Facebook page.