Muscatine County COVID-19 Vaccine

How will the COVID-19 vaccine work?

A COVID-19 vaccine will help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness. Vaccines train the immune system to prevent infections and illness by making antibodies and special white blood cells.

How is vaccine being distributed?

Due to the limited vaccine, the federal government and the state of Iowa have established priority groups that are being given the vaccine first due to their risk of exposure to COVID-19 and they risk for serious illness or death as a result of COVID-19.  We expect production of the vaccine to increase in 2021, when there will eventually be enough supply of the vaccine for everyone who would like to receive it.

What are the priority groups?

We are still currently in Phase 1A - frontline healthcare workers and long-term care residents.  As additional vaccine makes its way into our community, vaccine will be given to other healthcare workers and then eventually to other priority groups identified by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Iowa Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (IDAC).  At this time, IDAC has only provided recommendations for vaccine for Phase 1A, healthcare workers and long-term care residents.  Further recommendations on Phase 1B are expected from this group in the upcoming weeks.  The current recommendations of the IDAC can be found here:   https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/IDAC

Below is the anticipated vaccine distribution plan:

How will I know when I can receive vaccine?

Trinity Muscatine Public Health and partners are sharing information on this page, our Facebook page, and on the Muscatine County website as the county moves from one phase to the next. 

Resources:

Learn about the vaccine - ask questions and get the answers you need so you are ready to get the vaccine when it's your turn:
CDC's Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html
Iowa Department of Public Health: 
https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/Vaccine

Protect Yourself and Others

In the meantime, the best ways you can protect yourself from COVID-19 is by:

• Wearing a mask whenever you are out and about
• Keeping your distance from others
• Staying away from group gatherings outside your immediate household
• Staying home if you develop symptoms of illness
• Getting tested if you believe you may have COVID-19