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DES MOINES, Iowa (KWWL) – The Iowa Department of Public Health has released its guidelines for priority populations of the COVID-19 vaccine for phase 1B, based on recommendations from the Disease Advisory Board ‘Iowa and accepted by Interim Director of the IDPH, Kelly Garcia.
Due to current and short-term vaccine allocation projections for Iowa, the following populations will be eligible to receive the vaccine under Phase 1B:
- People 75 years of age or older or the following populations vulnerable to high risk of exposure or severity of disease;
- People with disabilities living at home who depend on auxiliary nursing staff and their auxiliary nursing staff, if they have not been vaccinated otherwise as part of phase 1A;
- Correctional facility staff and incarcerated persons, including state and city or county managed facilities;
- Staff and people living in assembly places, not covered by the previous two points, including shelters, sober houses, behavioral health treatment centers and detention centers. College dormitories should not be included in phase 1B;
- When public health data points to disease outbreaks or clusters among food, agriculture, distribution, and manufacturing workers who work or live in gathering places that do not allow social distancing . For example, working in a packing or meat manufacturing line or migrant workers who live in dormitory-style accommodation;
- PK-12 school staff, early childhood educators and child care staff. The sub-prioritization should take into account those who work with younger and at-risk children, in order to better ensure the well-being of the children and to mitigate the impact on the parental workforce;
- First responders (eg firefighters, police officers and child protection social workers);
- Inspectors responsible for health, life and safety, including those of hospitals and long-term care facilities, child safety and food production;
- Government officials, including staff, to provide continuity of government, engaged in the affairs of state at the Iowa Capitol during the legislative session.
Vaccine allocation strategy for phase 1B, in case of vaccine shortage:
- 50% of the vaccine allocation will go to priority age populations and individuals of all ages with co-morbidities.
- 50% of the vaccine allocation will be devoted to populations vulnerable to a high risk of exposure or severity of the disease.
- Allocations must be monitored and adjusted to ensure efficient and timely use of available vaccine doses.
The IDPH notes that no one can be prevented from obtaining the vaccine because of their residence or citizenship.
The IDAC approved the recommendations by 17 votes to 1. The IDPH notes that no one can be prevented from obtaining the vaccine because of their residence or citizenship.
The list does not include other essential workers described in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Phase 1B recommendations. The CDC recommends that U.S. Postal Service workers, grocery store workers, and transit workers also be included in Phase 1B plans.
The IDPH notes that it will take approximately 300 to 400,000 doses to complete phase 1A statewide. To date, Iowa has received approximately 226,000 doses. Vaccination of phase 1B populations will begin no later than February 1 and will take several weeks, but this schedule is subject to change.
More details on where Phase 1B populations will receive their vaccines are expected to be released shortly. Many will be administered through employer-based clinics. The IDPH notes that there are approximately 1,700 registered vaccine providers in the state. Many are pharmacies and clinical offices equipped to handle screening and planning vaccination efforts. County health departments can partner with these providers to ensure residents have access to the vaccine when it becomes available.
For more details on the Phase 1B recommendations, click here.
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