Shelby County Provides COVID-19 Vaccine Update

(Harlan) Myrtue Medical Center’s Public Health is working with Shelby County facilities to allocate vaccine doses to the Phase 1A priority populations. All 400 doses allocated to Shelby County were administered by Wednesday, January 6^th, to healthcare personnel in the county.

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the county are working with the Pharmacy Partnership for Long–term Care (LTC) Program to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for their residents and staff. Elm Crest Nursing Home was the first facility in Shelby County to receive its first dose of vaccinations on Friday, January 8th. It is anticipated that all LTC facility staff and residents will receive their first dose of vaccine by the end of January.

As more vaccines become available, Iowa’s Infectious Disease Advisory Council (IDAC) will review data and priority group recommendations issued by the CDC’s advisory group, the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP), to prioritize populations further to receive the vaccine in Iowa. IDAC is currently reviewing ACIP recommendations for Phase 1B priority groups.

“Once we have the final Phase 1B prioritization guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health, we will begin reaching out to those in this priority group to administer the vaccine as soon as it is received,” said County Public Health Director Lori Hoch. “We will also communicate vaccine availability through radio, newspaper, and Myrtue Medical Center’s website and Facebook page.”

Myrtue Medical Center’s Public Health will continue to provide updates for other priority populations as it receives additional information from IDPH and allocations of the vaccine. “Until there is sufficient vaccine supply, we will continue to follow priority group guidance for the allocation of the vaccine. It is anticipated that by mid-2021, there should be enough vaccine for anyone who wants to receive it,” said Hoch.

Until a vaccine is widely available to all, Iowans must continue to practice the mitigation measures that can slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.