All Iowans 16 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but the type of vaccine available in each individual county is limiting which residents will be vaccinated.
Henry County Public Health is currently providing the Moderna vaccine which is only for individuals age 18 and older. Community Outreach Coordinator Kelly Carr says the county is receiving 400 Moderna first-time doses a week with 100 of those doses provided to either the Hy-Vee or Walmart pharmacies in Mount Pleasant in order to get more people vaccinated who can’t make it to the county clinics. She says in addition to her department’s 300 first-time doses they’re also giving 300 booster shots each week.
The county’s vaccination clinic for Thursday(04.08) is full, but clinics are still open for appointments for healthy adults on Thursday, April 15th and Friday, April 23rd. Public Health Director Shelley Van Dorin said in a statement, “While we are relieved that both vaccine supply and eligibility are increasing and many of our residents have already been vaccinated, getting the vaccine is just one of the tools needed to stop the pandemic. We ask everyone to continue wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing your hands often when in public.”
Henry County had administered 8,662 total doses with 3,070 two-dose series completed as of Tuesday according to the Iowa Department of Public Health COVID-19 dashboard.
*Click here for more information on Henry County’s COVID vaccination clinics.