DES MOINES, Iowa (AP / KWWL) – Iowa health officials say they will withhold COVID-19 vaccines from five counties next week because they have not used up to 80% of their allocation this week.
Kelly Garcia, interim director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, said on Friday that the state is invoking a new rule, which aims to minimize the amount of vaccine left in storage.
“We were a little concerned that some spaces were not moving the vaccine as fast as we would like,” said Garcia. “Therefore, we have implemented a limit measure. The goal all the time was to receive the vaccine and distribute it as soon as possible ”.
She did not say which five counties are involved. Garcia said the counties are not being punished, but having time to recover vaccinations.
Counties will receive full vaccine allocation the following week if they meet the 80% target.
KWWL contacted IDPH and public information officer Sarah Ekstrand responded with a statement explaining the pause.
“This allocation break will allow each county to focus on administering several hundred unused doses they have on hand during that time. IDPH has offered to provide counties with nursing staff and other resources to assist them with vaccine clinics in their communities. will also work with each county to ensure they have the right tools to ensure rapid administration so that vaccine distribution can resume the following week. “
Sarah Ekstrand, Iowa Department of Public Health
Ekstrand said the doses originally allocated to these counties next week will be sent to other vaccine suppliers who are able to administer the doses at a higher rate. She said that disclosing the names of the five counties would be counterproductive.
“We feel that disclosing the names of the five counties does not support the intended outcome of the process, which is to give them the time they need to strengthen their management process and get back on track to receive new allocations for Iowans,” said Ekstrand.
KWWL is working to confirm the 5 counties involved.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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