Iowa Vaccine Administration Proceeding Slowly
Iowa administered an average of 5,808 shots on Wednesday and Thursday, up 1,100 from the Monday and Tuesday numbers but down nine hundred from the same period a week ago.
The total number of Iowans receiving their first immunization dose rose to 124,594 with 26,463 residents completing the vaccination series.
Based on per day vaccination administration numbers, health officials targeted the limited vaccine allocations at Iowans requiring their second shot.
Governor Kim Reynolds said the State receives 19,500 doses each week allocated by the federal government and those are immediately distributed to counties for administration. According to Reynolds, she expects the number of doses received to more than double to 39,000.
On February 1, Iowans age sixty-five and older become eligible for vaccination along with a variety of government workers, teachers, people living in congregate settings and life-safety inspectors. Called Phase 1B, the Iowa Department of Health published a chart prioritizing administration by population type.