Beginning Monday, January 4, Eastern Iowa Health Center (EIHC) will serve as a COVID-19 vaccination site for select Linn County independent health care providers and staff. EIHC has received a small initial allotment of the two dose Moderna vaccine to administer to EIHC employees and Linn County independent health care providers. Vaccination of this population continues efforts in Phase 1a of the COVID-19 vaccination program.

“We are very excited to be able to vaccinate our employees and help vaccinate our community medical partners. Every vaccine gets us one step closer to immunity in our community,” comments Elly Steffen, EIHC Chief Operations Officer.

EIHC and Linn County Public Health (LCPH) have partnered to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to independent health care providers to maximize efficiency of COVID-19 vaccination to a specific population of healthcare personnel. Independent health care providers invited to participate in these clinics were identified by LCPH, based on recommendations from CDC and IDPH.  EIHC will administer the second dose of the vaccine after the 28-day waiting period. COVID-19 vaccine clinics for the independent providers are by appointment only, and all vaccine has been assigned. Any organizations in Phase 1a that still need vaccinations arranged should contact LCPH to be matched with a vaccination provider.

“During this time of limited COVID-19 vaccine supply, we are tasked with offering COVID-19 vaccine to Phase 1a populations first, which are health care personnel and long-term care facility residents” said Tricia Kitzmann, Community Health Division Manager at LCPH. “We are happy to hear from many people in our community they are eager to receive the vaccine. It will take a variety of methods to get vaccine to our community. This partnership demonstrates how collaboration can provide efficient vaccine administration once vaccine is available.”

For more information on COVID-19 vaccination in Linn County, visit https://www.linncounty.org/1494/COVID-19-Vaccine.