INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa governor has revoked COVID-19 awards for Buchanan, Hancock and three other counties, creating uncertainty over next week’s planned vaccinations.
Buchanan County health officials confirmed that it was one of five counties notified by the Iowa Governor’s Office on Thursday night that they had not met the new 80% requirement for state use to receive more doses. The Iowa Department of Public Health did not want to identify the other four provinces affected. Spokeswoman Sarah Ekstrand said in an email: “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 complete their administration process. to complete and get back on track with new awards to Iowans. ”
KCRG-TV9 was able to confirm that Hancock County in North Central Iowa ranks among the five counties.
Buchanan County Public Health Director Tai Burkhart told KCRG-TV9 the country would reach the 80% threshold with clinics holding it Thursday night and Friday. The clinics planned before the 80% rule was announced. Burkhart said the Iowa Department of Public Health is aware of the planned clinics and said it will have an 80% grace period this week.
In an emergency call Friday morning, the governor’s office said it would “reconsider” revoking the vaccine dose if the country could reach its 80% threshold by the end of the day on Friday.
The Iowa Department of Public Health said in an email to KCRG-TV9 that the “disruption in allocation could allow each state to administer the hundreds of unused doses they have during that time.”
However, Buchanan County says after Friday, there will not be hundreds of doses left to administer and will have to cancel a 400-person clinic scheduled for Tuesday.
“It weakens their confidence in public health and weakens their confidence and the Iowa Department of Public Health that does not make the decisions, the governor does not seek advice from the health professionals,” Hunt said.
Buchanan County does not know whether or when he will inquire whether the state will make its decision on how many, if any, doses will be received next week. The province vaccinated even more people on Friday to overcome the 80% mark by recalling doses from a separate clinic that would be administered early next week.
Hunt and Burkhart said the late rule change and notice left Buchanan County with no time to adjust its vaccination clinics or to reach the 80% threshold.
“They change their rules so often, it’s very difficult to meet their demands,” Hunt said.
Hunt is also an administrator for a nursing home and says the withholding of vaccinations is personal to her.
“I’m the one who has to hold their hand when they die of this disease,” Hunt said. “So if the people of Buchanan County are not going to be vaccinated, I’m the end result.”
The Governors’ Office says the doses initially allocated to Buchanan and the four other provinces will be “sent to other vaccine providers with a higher administration rate.”
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