CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Law enforcement agencies are part of the first tier in the current phase of vaccinations in Iowa.
Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner said their department had not yet vaccinated employees. He also said less than half of them are interested in getting it.
Gardner said he does not necessarily consider the percentage to be a low percentage, but that it is average compared to other workers of law enforcement or correction. However, it is lower than he had hoped.
Gardner said they interviewed staff to see who was ready and willing to get a vaccine, and that they were also getting information from the state and state public health departments about the vaccination. He said that it is not necessary for employees to take the vaccine, but hopes that as they get more information about the distribution, more employees will be able to be vaccinated.
He does not know why less than 50% of the employees surveyed want the chance.
‘I think it’s at least the right thing for me and my family to do. There may be legitimate reasons why some of our staff do not receive the vaccine. And conversely, I know that some of my staff have already received the vaccine. “They could get it elsewhere than through the channels here with the sheriff,” Gardner said. “I encourage everyone who wants to get it. I provided just as much factual information to them to make an informed decision. ”
Gardner said prison staff have been pre-approved to distribute the vaccine, but since the vaccine required by public health requires very cool storage, they will not be able to store it in the home or in the jail. Therefore, they will be vaccinated from local hospitals.
Once, and if, they get a vaccine that can be stored internally, nursing staff in the jail can hand out shots to inmates and the staff in the correctional center.
Gardner said he believes it is important for staff to get the vaccine because it will be the fastest way to return to what is normal.
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