How is the vaccine being distributed right now?
- According to federal, state and public health guidelines, healthcare workers with the highest risk of exposure and long-term care facilities were identified as the first tier to receive the vaccine.
- We started vaccinating healthcare personnel in December 2020 and continue to make progress based on
available number of vaccine doses allocated to us from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). - The next tier will include additional essential workers and higher risk patients. Distribution will depend on the number of available vaccine doses and progress will vary by county due to a variety of factors. If you identify as a member of one of these groups, please know we’re working quickly to determine eligibility, timelines and processes. We appreciate your patience.
- IDPH will begin reporting numbers of completed vaccines per county this week.
- We expect COVID-19 vaccines to be widely available to the general public later in 2021. Eligibility, timelines and processes will depend on the number of available vaccine doses to our communities.
How will I be notified when and where I can receive the vaccine?
- We will post updates on the:
- Muscatine County’s website at https://www.muscatinecountyiowa.gov/
- Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Trinity-Muscatine-Public-Health-221869804495734
- Trinity Muscatine Public Health website at https://www.unitypoint.org/quadcities/covid-19-vaccine-1.aspx?preview=true
- We will partner with all local newspapers in the county to share through their media outlets.
Please note that community members can’t sign up for the vaccine in advance at this time.
Additional Information & Guidance
- If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit Pfizer (https://uph.link/l7m) and Moderna (https://uph.link/i4y) Vaccine Fact Sheets from the FDA.
- Continue to wear a face covering, social distance and wash your hands frequently in order to help reduce your risk of COVID-19.
- Learn about the COVID-19 vaccine from fact-based sources, such as the FDA (https://uph.link/uo6) and CDC (https://uph.link/h3y).
- Contact your health care provider if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
What are some of the potential side effects?
- For more information on vaccine safety, speed of development and potential side effects of vaccination, we recommend reading the Pfizer EUA Fact Sheet (https://uph.link/l7m) and Moderna EUA Fact Sheet (https://uph.link/i4y).
- Please sign up for V-Safe on your mobile devices. It is an after-vaccination CDC health checker app. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/vsafe.html
What are the ingredients in the COVID vaccine?
- Ingredients for the Pfizer COVID Vaccine may be found on the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Fact Sheet (https://uph.link/l7m).
- Ingredients for the Moderna Vaccine can be found on the EUA Fact Sheet (https://uph.link/i4y).
How do I know this vaccine is safe, since it was just developed? How can I trust the approval process?
- In order to receive Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA, the vaccine must be proven safe and effective. The science is rooted in years of research, and every step of the vaccine process went through the same safety assessments as all other vaccines.
- For more information on vaccine safety, speed of development and potential side effects of vaccination, we recommend visiting the CDC website (https://uph.link/h3y).
Should someone with allergies get this vaccine?
- If you have had a serious allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any previous vaccine or injectable therapy or have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine, you should talk to your healthcare provider before considering the COVID vaccine.
Does the second dose have to be exactly 21 days (Pfizer) or 28 days (Moderna) after the first dose?
- Both vaccines available under the FDA EUA (emergency use authorization) are 2 dose vaccines with the second dose for the Pfizer vaccine at least 21 days and Moderna vaccine at least 28 days. It can be administered past the recommended interval but not before.
- These are the intervals utilized in the vaccine studies, so it is optimal to remain consistent.
- The CDC has stated that if the second vaccine is given late, the series does not need to be restarted.
- The second dose should be the same brand as the initial dose as there is not data to support interchanging brands.
If I have already tested positive for COVID, can I get the vaccine?
Yes, per CDC guidance current evidence suggests that reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 is uncommon in the 90 days after initial infection. Therefore, people with a recent infection may delay vaccination until the end of that 90-day period if desired. However, you can get the vaccine as soon as you have fully recovered from your time in isolation.
Can pregnant or nursing individuals receive the vaccine?
- Yes, pregnant and nursing individuals are eligible to receive the vaccine. They were excluded from the clinical trials in the development of this vaccine, so no information has been collected regarding its safety during pregnancy. However, our Women’s Service Line supports the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in the position the vaccine should be offered to pregnant and lactating individuals.
It is important to know that being pregnant puts a woman at increased risk of more severe COVID-19 with an increase in ICU admission and ventilator use when compared to non-pregnant women in the same age group. The bottom line – it’s a personal decision, so we recommend pregnant individuals contact their provider to discuss their individual situation.
