Iowa will not immediately offer vaccines to all seniors

Iowa does not plan to immediately offer coronavirus vaccines to everyone over the age of 65, as the federal government recommended on Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health said.

“Once we have reasonable confidence that the offer meets the requirements of these broader eligibility criteria, we will activate the broader distribution criteria,” the ministry said in a press release Tuesday afternoon. “From the very beginning (of) this distribution effort, our goal has been to reach all Iowans.”

Iowa’s immunization program, which began in mid-December, has so far focused on frontline healthcare workers, residents and staff in long-term care facilities.

The department said on Tuesday that the next round of immunizations, which is scheduled to begin Feb. 1, is to include Iowans 75 years of age or older. Other eligible groups must include:

Those groups were recommended for inclusion on Monday by a panel of experts advising Kelly Garcia, acting director of the health department. Garcia decided to add health inspectors and government officials and staff who work at the Iowa Capitol during the legislative session.

Earlier on Tuesday, the country’s top health administrator announced a major change in federal recommendations on coronavirus vaccination. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar has urged states to open up vaccination to all people 65 years of age or older. Azar also said states should not withhold vaccines to ensure people get a second vaccine three or four weeks later. He said vaccine production and shipping should be able to provide follow-up injections.

“Administration in the states has been too narrowly focused,” Azar said.

Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday that 98,691 Iowans had received at least one of the two-dose vaccinations against the coronavirus and that 208,875 doses of the vaccine had been delivered to the state.

Garcia, speaking to Iowa lawmakers on Tuesday, noted that Azar’s Department plans to dramatically increase vaccine delivery to states. She said once supplies increase, “we’ll quickly pivot” to other groups, including people aged 65 to 75 and young adults with chronic health conditions.

The health department said information would soon be available on how the vaccines will be distributed to larger groups. Hundreds of local pharmacies and clinics could participate, and some employers may arrange for injections to be administered at their workplace. Public health officials said the county health departments may also establish central vaccination centers.

Ken Sharp, an administrator with the state health department overseeing the effort, told lawmakers on Tuesday that although the second round of vaccinations begins on February 1, it could take several weeks to treat the hundreds of thousands. of people in Iowa who will qualify for the vaccine.

“We need everyone to understand: not everyone will get their vaccine on February 2,” he said. “They won’t even necessarily get their vaccine until February 15th,” or the end of February.

Sharp said the pace of the vaccination will depend heavily on supply, which is coordinated by the federal government.

“Our message continues to be: please be patient,” he said. “… It’s not as easy as a light switch.”

Many counties, including Polk, have already expanded their immunization efforts to include some people who work in health-related fields, such as ambulance teams, home helpers and pharmacy staff.

In addition, the Iowa Department of Human Services has started immunizing staff at its six institutions, which include Cherokee and Independence Psychiatric Hospitals and Glenwood and Woodward Resource Centers for People with Developmental Disabilities.

The vaccinations come as Iowa and the country continue to face deadly coronavirus outbreaks. As of Tuesday morning, the state had 4,222 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Although hospitalizations have fallen by more than half since a November outbreak, 552 Iowans were hospitalized Tuesday with COVID-19.

Polk County warned Tuesday that even with the vaccines distributed, coronavirus infections are on an alarming rise.

New positive tests have declined steadily after the November surge, but are climbing again in the new year, experts said in a public meeting online Tuesday. Polk County Health Director Helen Eddy has warned that the trend means the most populous county in Iowa could return to peak levels of COVID-19 by the end of January.

“The post-vacation push is underway,” Eddy said. “… We tend to reach the peak of the surge from the previous November over the next 14 days, regardless of the progress of the vaccine. Severe stress on our health care, our schools and our community is upon us. “

Public health officials continue to advise the public to avoid large groups, wear masks when in public, and wash their hands frequently. These precautions will be needed for months to come, they say.

Tony Leys covers health care for the registry. Contact him at [email protected] or 515-284-8449.

Iowa does not plan to immediately offer coronavirus vaccines to everyone over the age of 65, as the federal government recommended on Tuesday, the Iowa Department of Public Health said.

“Once we have reasonable confidence that the offer meets the requirements of these broader eligibility criteria, we will activate the broader distribution criteria,” the ministry said in a press release Tuesday afternoon. “From the very beginning (of) this distribution effort, our goal has been to reach all Iowans.”

Iowa’s immunization program, which began in mid-December, has so far focused on frontline healthcare workers, residents and staff in long-term care facilities.

The department said on Tuesday that the next round of vaccinations, which is scheduled to begin Feb. 1, should include Iowans 75 years of age or older. Other eligible groups must include: