Greene County public health will begin vaccinating persons in Phase 1B, Tier 2 against Covid-19 next Monday, March 8.
Tier 2 includes the following:
Group 1:
- Individuals with disabilities living in home settings who are dependent on attendant care staff (according to the Americans with Disabilities Act definition of disability as “someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment)
- Attendant care staff of such individuals, even if they are a family member
Group 2:
- Frontline essential workers in food, agriculture, distribution and manufacturing sectors AND work or live in settings that make social distancing unfeasible, such as meatpacking plants. This group does not include restaurant, grocery workers or other essential workers at this time.
- Migrant workers who live in congregate settings where social distancing is difficult or impossible to maintain.
Greene County public health will handle vaccinations in Tier 2, as well as those in Tier 1 (age 65 and older, healthcare workers, first responders, law enforcement, school/childcare workers) who have not yet received the vaccine. Greene County Family Medicine, McFarland Clinic, HyVee Pharmacy and Medicap Pharmacy will administer vaccines to persons in Tier 1 only.
Greene County public health director Becky Wolf reports that both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are now available in Greene County. As of March 21, 1,991 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered, and 452 series (two doses) have been completed.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is now available in Iowa. The J&J vaccine requires only one dose for 85 percent effectiveness, beginning 28 days after vaccination.
Wolf asks members of the essential workforce in Greene County to wait until more vaccines are available. “Our employers have implemented successful mitigation measures that offer protection from the virus,” she said. “Please continue to use these efforts until vaccine supply can meet demand.”
Greene County public health expects to receive 100 doses of the Moderna vaccine per week through mid-March. Limited amounts have been shared with Medicap Pharmacy, Greene County Family Medicine and McFarland Clinic Jefferson. Hyvee Pharmacy expects to receive limited amounts of the J&J vaccine this week.
Local clinics and pharmacies are still in Tier 1B in the prioritized process, vaccinating persons age 65 and older.
Vaccinations for those persons are available as follows:
- Hy-Vee Pharmacy-Jefferson
- Check Jefferson Hy-Vee Facebook link to sign up and check vaccine availability
- Phone: 515-386-4151
- Medicap-Jefferson:
- Phone 515-386-2164 to sign up for vaccine
- Greene County Public Health:
- Online waiting list request: https://hipaa.jotform.com/210254625890152
- Email: covid@gcmchealth.com
- Phone: 515-386-0564
- Greene County Family Medicine Clinic:
- Vaccinating oldest to youngest of 65 years of age and above
- Individually contacting patients to schedule appointments
- McFarland Clinic-Jefferson:
- Vaccinating oldest to youngest of 65 years of age and above
- Individually contacting patients to schedule appointments
- Clinic calls will come from phone number 833-332-0011
Wolf also reported that the 14-day positivity rate for Covid-19 testing in the county has nudged up to 2.5 percent, with a total of 794 cases in the county. There are 91 active cases as of Wednesday morning, March 3.
