Vaccine wait list initiated

Staff report

The Greene County board of supervisors on Jan. 14 extended the mandated use of face coverings in the county until March 31.

Since supervisors enacted their original mask mandate on Nov. 12, the county’s 14-day COVID-19 rate had fallen from more than 26 percent to 5.8 percent as of Jan. 12. As of Wednesday, the county’s 14-day positivity rate was 9.3 percent.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf on Wednesday said public health is still working through the vaccination of people in Phase 1A (health care workers and nursing home/assisted living residents) “as swiftly as possible.”

Wolf said they hope to begin offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people in Phase 1B — those 75 and older, as well as other high-risk populations — by the first of February. Greene County Public Health has created a waiting list for Phase 1B individuals. She said people who meet the criteria are asked to email covid@gcmchealth.com or call 515-386-0564 to sign up.

There are also plans, Wolf said, to roll out an online vaccine appointment scheduling program in the coming weeks.

Wolf stresses that no one will be denied receiving the vaccine based on residency or citizenship, but that projected time frames are subject to change depending on vaccine availability.

The Phase 1B population includes:

• Persons 75 or older

• Individuals with disabilities living in home settings dependent on attendants for care, and their attendants

• PK-12 school staff, early childhood education and child care workers who work with younger and at-risk children

• First responders (firefighters, law enforcement, dependent adult abuse and child welfare social workers)

• Correctional facility staff and inmates

• Staff and individuals living in congregate settings (shelters, treatment centers, detention centers)

• Inspectors responsible for health, life and safety (hospitals, long-term care settings, child care and food production)

• Governmental officials and staff engaged in state business at the Iowa Capitol during legislative session

Wolf said details will be forthcoming on where Phase 1B people can receive their COVID-19 vaccines in Greene County.

Doses, she said, will be administered via primary care clinics, pharmacies and Greene County Medical Center Occupational Health. In addition, public health is planning to conduct mass vaccination clinics in different community locations.