COVID-19 Vaccine Info & Visitor Policy Updates

COVID-19 Vaccine Info 

We've started administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the public while following the guidelines developed by state and local public health departments. Here's what you can expect from us:

• Based on state and local public health guidelines, if you identify as an eligible individual based off age, we will notify you via phone, direct mail and/or through MyUnityPoint when you are eligible to schedule an appointment.
• If you identify as an eligible individual based off your place of employment or occupation, we encourage you to closely monitor communication from your local public health department. We will continue to partner with local public health departments on the best strategies to vaccinate and broadly communicate to these groups of individuals.
• We expect COVID-19 vaccines to be widely available to the general public later in 2021. Please note that community members aren't able to sign up for the vaccine in advance.

To date, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids has administered 13,307 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. These doses have been given to eligible individuals in Phases 1A & 1B, which is directed by Linn County Public Health (LCPH). These doses are being administered through St. Luke's Employee Health, UnityPoint Clinics and UnityPoint Health Work Well Clinic. For the week of March 1, 2021, UnityPoint Health will be given 1,170 doses of the vaccine to distribute.

The hospital and Work Well are vaccinating health care workers, first responders, teachers and others identified as eligible by LCPH.

Every day, UnityPoint Clinic is sending invitations to eligible patients to schedule their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Text messaging with a self-scheduling link is used. If a patient does not have texting capabilities or the clinic doesn't get a response from the patient, the clinic staff call eligible patients. The vaccine is available by appointment only and there is not a wait list. We ask for your patience as vaccine supply determines how quickly we are able to vaccinate patients. You can check our progress by visiting this webpage, as it's updated weekly.

Here is a closer look at UnityPoint Clinic information, which is currently contacting its patients ages 65 and older to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine.

• 5,042 Number of patients vaccinated
• 116% of allotted doses used, which is possible by getting extra doses from vaccine vials
• 19% of its eligible patient population has been vaccinated through UnityPoint Clinics
• 6,311 of UnityPoint Clinic patients have been invited to schedule a vaccination appointment
• 78% of invited, eligible UnityPoint Clinic patients invited have scheduled an appointment

In the meantime, we encourage everyone, including those who have received the vaccine, to wear a face covering, social distance and wash your hands frequently in order to help reduce your risk of COVID-19.

In the meantime, we encourage everyone, including those who have received the vaccine, to wear a face covering, social distance and wash your hands frequently in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Learn about the COVID-19 vaccine from fact-based sources, such as the FDA and CDC. Please contact your health care provider if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

Visitor Policy Updates

Please be kind to our team members if they remind you of our policy. We want to keep everyone safe.

Patients and visitors please enter through the West Entrance to gain entry into the hospital.

Visitor Restrictions

• Visiting hours are 6  a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Visitors must be screened, have a badge applied and wear a mask or no entry.
• Visitors must be in good health.  Please do not visit if you have symptoms of respiratory infection. (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath).
• Hospitalized patients and ER patients may have one visitor at a time.
• Birth Care patients will have one support person.
• NICU patients may have one birth parent plus one significant other.
• Patients at end-of-life may have visitors assessed on a case-by-case basis. No more than two visitors and maximum of four.
• Minors under the age of 18 may have one visitor, parent or guardian which includes our Emergency and Pediatric Departments.
• Surgery or outpatient procedure patients may have one visitor.
• Patients with an appointment at a hospital-based clinic, lab or radiology may have one person accompany them.
• Visitors must stay in the patient’s room during their visit.  However, they may visit the Gift Shop or Cafeteria for needed items. They are asked to either return immediately to their patient’s room or depart the hospital.
• No animals allowed except for official service animals.

No Visitors Allowed In:

• Behavioral Health Unit (2E and 1W only).
• No children under the age of 16 (unless extraordinary circumstances).
• No visitors in COVID-positive or COVID-pending symptomatic patient rooms.
• Visitors who are unable to wear a mask due to a disability are limited to visiting 45 minutes or less.