DES MOINES, Iowa (AP / KWWL) – Iowa health officials say they will withhold COVID-19 vaccines in five counties next week because they did not use up to 80% of their allocation this week.
Kelly Garcia, interim director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, said Friday the state is appealing to a new rule aimed at reducing the amount of vaccine stored.
“We were a little worried that some spaces were not moving the vaccine as fast as we would like,” Garcia said. “So we implemented a threshold measurement. The goal was to receive the vaccine and get it out as quickly as possible.”
She did not say which five provinces are involved. Garcia says the provinces are not punished, but rather get time to catch up on vaccinations.
The provinces will receive their full award next week if they reach the 80% target.
KWWL reached out to the IDPH and Public Information Officer Sarah Ekstrand responded with a statement explaining the break.
“This disruption in the allocation will allow each country to concentrate on administering the hundreds of unused doses they have available over time. IDPH has offered to provide nursing staff and other resources to the provinces to assist them with vaccination clinics. in their communities. IDPH will also work with each province to ensure they have the right tools to ensure prompt administration so that vaccination can resume next week. “
Sarah Ekstrand, Iowa Department of Public Health
Ekstrand said the doses originally allocated to these provinces next week would be sent to other vaccine providers who could administer the doses at a higher dose. She said releasing the names of the five provinces would be counterproductive.
“We feel that the announcement of the names of the five provinces does not support the intended outcome of the process, it is to give them the time they need to advance their administration process and get back on track to new awards. Iowans to receive, “Ekstrand said. .
KWWL is in the process of confirming the 5 provinces concerned.
Associated Press contributed to this story.
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