A COVID-19 vaccine will help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness. Vaccines train the immune system to prevent infections and illness by making antibodies and special white blood cells.
Due to the limited vaccine, the federal government and the state of Iowa have established priority groups that are being given the vaccine first due to their risk of exposure to COVID-19 and they risk for serious illness or death as a result of COVID-19. We expect production of the vaccine to increase in 2021, when there will eventually be enough supply of the vaccine for everyone who would like to receive it.
We are still currently in Phase 1A - frontline healthcare workers and long-term care residents. As additional vaccine makes its way into our community, vaccine will be given to other healthcare workers and then eventually to other priority groups identified by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Iowa Infectious Disease Advisory Council (IDAC). Phase 1B was released by IDAC on Monday, January 12, 2021 (modified January 21, 2021) and includes the following groups:
Phase 1B: Individuals 65+ years of age AND Populations vulnerable to high risk of exposure or severity of illness.
Populations vulnerable to high risk of exposure or severity of illness include:
Scott County Health Department will be utilizing these prioritization guidelines to identify the populations vulnerable to high risk of exposure or severity of illness to provide vaccination while supply of vaccine remains low.
The current recommendations of the IDAC can be found here: https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/IDAC.
The Iowa Department of Public Health has issued a vaccine shortage order. This order requires vaccine providers, by law, to only administer vaccines to individuals included in Phase 1A: Healthcare Workers and Long-Term Care Residents and Staff. Phase 1B will likely begin no later than February 1, 2021.
Below is the anticipated vaccine rollout:
The Scott County Health Department and partners of the QC COVID-19 Coalition are sharing information on our website, social media pages, and with local media, community partners, and healthcare providers.
Learn about the vaccine - ask questions and get the answers you need so you are ready to get the vaccine when it's your turn:
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In the meantime, the best ways you can protect yourself from COVID-19 is by:
Essential Worker Survey:
The Iowa Infectious Disease Advisory Council has not yet provided guidance for priority groups to be provided vaccine in Phase 1B. Please have one individual from your business/essential organization complete this survey to provide our department with information as we continue vaccination planning: