Ringgold County Public Health is continuing to gather contact information for county residents who are interested in receiving COVID-19 vaccinations.
Data needed includes name, date of birth, and a phone number where the individual can be reached. At this time, we are focusing efforts on those age 65 and older. We are also coordinating with nursing homes, schools, daycare centers, law enforcement, fire departments, human services, and disability service providers in order to vaccinate these essential workers. In order to begin planning for further phases, the agency is also taking contact information for those residents under age 65 with underlying health conditions who are interested in vaccination when the state allows.
Vaccine remains in short supply. The agency is dispensing Moderna vaccine, which has been proven to be 94.1 percent effective two weeks after the second dose. As vaccine is received by the agency, clinics will be scheduled to push it out rapidly to priority groups determined by Iowa Department of Public Health.
“We ask that you please be patient. It will take some time for supply to meet demand,” states Becky Fletchall, RN, BSN Nurse Administrator. So far, per state reporting data as of February 1, county residents received 620 doses with 130 completing the two-dose series.
The agency also continues to complete case investigation and contact tracing in order to help minimize further spread of COVID-19 illness. Of the 99 health departments in Iowa, 34 are continuing to complete their own case tracing. The state has assumed the duty for counties that were unable to continue this service. “We’ve been able to reach over 99 percent of positive cases within 24 hours of agency notification. This has lightened the burden for some of our partners to have a local connection. We feel this is also helping our residents to provide timely education and assist those with illness to minimize further spread,” states Fletchall.
Please call Public Health at 641-464-0691 if you are interested in receiving vaccine.
More information is available at: https://coronavirus.iowa.gov.
