Des Moines County anxiously awaits first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine Des Moines County's first COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be administered before Christmas. The Hawk Eye Iowa received its first doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 Monday, and it won't be long before the highly anticipated vials arrive in Des Moines County. "I do anticipate there will be some vaccination happening before Christmas," Des Moines County Public Health Administrator Christa Poggemiller told The Hawk Eye Tuesday. "Iowa City gave their first dose yesterday, and I would assume that in the near future, we will be doing the same." Poggemiller, who for months has been working with local healthcare providers and Des Moines County Emergency Management to coordinate the distribution of the vaccine, will be notified one or two days in advance of the arrival of Des Moines County's first vaccine shipment via Iowa's Immunization Registry Information System.