lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
The winter weather pummeling the country has caused a delay in the arrival of the latest shipment of COVID-19 vaccines for Marshall County.
Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said normally the vaccine shipment arrives on Tuesday. She is not sure when this week’s shipment will show up, but is confident it will arrive eventually.
“Who knew the electricity would go out,” Thompson asked. “When it gets here, we will be consistent on going forward with our plans.”
When it does, Thompson assured the vaccines will be used . . . and used quickly. Marshall County was not one of the five Iowa counties the state withheld vaccines from for failing to go through 80 percent of the doses. Thompson said Marshall County has no problem going through the vaccines in a timely manner.
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
To date, there have been 151 UnityPoint patients in Marshalltown vaccinated for COVID-19, and 50 in State Center.
UnityPoint – Marshalltown has made it a top priority to vaccinate as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, said Sean Hylton, UnityPoint’s marketing communications specialist.
“As experienced around the country, there are limited supplies of vaccine available so far, yet we’re pleased to have administered all our allocated vaccines within a couple days of receiving the doses,” Hylton said.
UnityPoint is working closely with Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson, as vaccine distribution and allocation is determined by county, state and federal health departments.
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
A nurse prepares
a COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday. There is a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines for everyone in Iowa.
There is a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines. Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said next week, the county will only receive 300 doses.
The last two weeks, Marshall County received 400 doses in each shipment. Thompson said each county in Iowa is facing a shortage, as are numerous across the nation. She does not think the vaccine shortage will get worse, but it will mean getting doses to everyone might take more time.
Hopefully, most residents who want the Moderna vaccine will be able to get them by the middle of the year, which was the goal time Thompson had in mind when vaccinations began in December. However, she cannot guarantee that will happen.
lbradstream@timesrepublican.com
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Residents and staff of Iowa Veterans Home will begin receiving injections of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 12. Marshalltown had a shipment of the Moderna vaccine last week.
Staff and residents of Iowa Veterans Home will begin to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 12 in an effort called Operation COVID Freedom.
Commandant Timon Oujiri said IVH has partnered with Walgreens to distribute the vaccinations.
“We have been speaking with residents and staff and told them everyone who gets the vaccine has to sign consent forms,” he said.
People who are unable to receive the vaccine on Jan. 12 will be able to get them in February.
Dec 12, 2020
A customer wears a mask as he walks in a Walgreen s pharmacy store and a sign advising that a COVID-19 vaccine is not yet available at Walgreens in Northbrook, Ill., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
As the country prepares for the distribution of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Marshall County is waiting for the Moderna version.
A Food and Drug Administration panel approved the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday, and it is expected the approval for Moderna is not far behind.
Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said the only reason the county is not receiving the first available vaccine is there are no storage units available to use. The Pfizer vaccine requires a minus 70 degree storage unit. As to when the Moderna vaccines will arrive, Thompson said she is not sure, but is hopeful it will be soon.