COVID vaccinations moving to group 2

Monday evening South Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD) officials reported they are expecting to wrap up first dose vaccination of most of the health care provider priority groups in the four-county district who want the COVID-19 vaccine. Michele Bever, executive director, said she hopes to move on to vaccinating individuals 75 or more years old next week, depending on how much vaccine is allotted to the health district.

“This week we are still vaccinating health care personnel. There are first doses of vaccine available for health care personnel in the Phase 1A priority groups,” Bever said. According to Nebraska’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan this includes hospital personnel, EMS, and long-term care facility residents and staff. This group also includes developmental disabilities organizations, behavioral health, home health care, pharmacies, dentists, optometrists, school nurses, public health, and many others working in health care.

Bever said eligible health workers could schedule through the health department to get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at clinics scheduled in Nuckolls County on Tuesday and Wednesday, in Clay County on Wednesday, and Adams County today (Thursday.)

“After the health workers, we can move to the next priority group, which is individuals 75 years and older. We will not be able to schedule appointments until we know how much vaccine will be allocated and when the next shipment is arriving. However, on Monday we launched a web-based sign-up for residents age 75 and over to indicate their interest in receiving the vaccine,” Bever said.

“This simple sign-up tool can be accessed through our website, http://www.southheartlandhealth.org, Just click on the red ribbon at the top of the page,” she said. A link to the tool is also on the SHDHD’s Facebook page.

Bever said the vaccine is still being allocated out in small amounts and it takes time to get to all of the people in each priority group who want the vaccine. “Everyone in each phase can be vaccinated as soon as there are enough vaccines available in our district,” she said.

SHDHD also reported 53 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the four days of January 8 through 11), averaging 13.3 new cases per day and bringing the cumulative number of cases in the four-county health district to 3,978. The new confirmed cases for the seven-day period include: 36 in Adams, 8 in Clay, 8 in Nuckolls and 1 in Webster. By county, the new cumulative totals are: 2,611 cases in Adams, 644 cases in Clay, 411 cases in Nuckolls, and 312 cases in Webster.

Weekly positivity for the health district decreased to 14 percent compared to 15 percent the week before. By county, the positivity was 15 percent in Adams, 12.4 percent in Clay, 15.3 percent in Nuckolls, and 9.8 percent in Webster.

While waiting their turn for the vaccine, Bever encouraged residents to continue practicing the 3Cs: avoid crowded spaces, avoid close contact and avoid confined spaces. “We will need to use ALL the tools we have, including the vaccine, to help stop the pandemic.”

More than 38,000 vaccine doses were administered last week in Nebraska. As of Sunday, 76,882 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given to those in Phase 1A priority group, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Phase 1A includes frontline health care workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. In accordance with federal guidelines, Nebraska launched its Federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care (LTC) Program Dec. 28.

The federal pharmacy program for four weeks received all of the incoming Pfizer allocation to support efforts in Nebraska’s long-term care facilities (LTFCs). This week is the last week that the full Pfizer allocation will be reserved for the Federal Pharmacy Program.

As well, first doses have been given to more than 40 percent of Nebraska’s 90,000 health care workers so far, with nearly 10,000 receiving a second dose.

Nebraska currently receives about 23,000 first doses a week, in addition to shipments of second doses.

Community clinics with scheduled appointments will be the primary way vaccine doses are given while the vaccine supply remain limited to help ensure all doses can be used in the required timeframe.  Community clinics will stagger appointments in order to observe social distancing and provide space for monitoring after vaccination.

  In the coming weeks DHHS will launch a website to help Nebraskans register for COVID-19 vaccination and receive updates, scheduling information and follow-up reminders. Those interested in registering will be asked to provide basic information to help determine eligibility, according to priority groups and phases outlined in Nebraska’s vaccination plan, and be notified when clinics begin in your area.