Vaccine Distribution in Webster County

WEBSTER COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH CONTINUES TO FOLLOW GUIDANCE FROM SEVERAL AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REGARDING THE VACCINATION PROCESS IN WEBSTER COUNTY.  KELLI BLOOMQUIST, WITH WEBSTER COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, SAID RECENTLY THAT VACCINATIONS ARE IN PHASE 1A, WHICH INCLUDES HEALTHCARE FRONTLINE WORKERS AND SKILLED NURSING FACILITY STAFF AND RESIDENTS.  THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ESTIMATED THAT IT WOULD RECEIVE 19,500 DOSES OF BOTH THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES.  THESE NUMBERS ARE ONLY USED FOR PLANNING.  BLOOMQUIST SAID WEBSTER COUNTY HAS RECEIVED ITS FIRST SHIPMENT OF THE PFIZER VACCINE, WHICH WAS ALLOCATED AND SHIPPED TO UNITYPOINT HEALTH-FORT DODGE.  WEBSTER COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW GUIDANCE FROM THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER AGENCIES REGARDING VACCINE ALLOTMENT.  BLOOMQUIST CAUTIONED THAT IT WILL BE SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN RECEIVE ANY VACCINES.  SHE ALSO ASKED RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE WEARING MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING, WASHING HANDS, AND STAYING HOME WHEN SICK.