Thu, 01 Jun 2023 14:08:47 GMT (1685628527761)
Are some cutting in line to get the COVID-19 vaccine? It's complicated
Dr. Richard Amankwah, a Prevea Health hospitalist at HSHS St. Vincent and St. Mary’s Hospitals in Wisconsin, receives a second dose of coronavirus vaccine Jan. 6, 2021. (SBG/Courtesy HSHS/Prevea)
0
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Iowa's News Now has heard from viewers concerned that some people are getting the vaccine ahead of those at greater risk of winding up in a hospital, or worse, if they contract COVID-19. While that's true, it doesn't mean anyone is violating the rules, rather, it's a side effect of a sluggish and somewhat vague rollout of a vaccine in high demand.
As the first doses were on their way out the door in December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined guidelines for who should get the vaccine first. Their recommendation was frontline workers. States have vaccines delivered straight to the hospitals with such a mandate in place. Ultimately it is states who make the call on who gets the vaccine and when, the federal government is only providing suggestions.
Here in Iowa, a draft completed in December determined the first shots should go to: "Critical workforce who provide healthcare and have direct or indirect exposure to patients in such settings as hospitals and long-term care facilities." A pretty vague statement that, more importantly, did not provide any guidance about what to do once a hospital determined everyone at greatest risk was protected. In many cases, that meant hospital workers that don't work with patients were getting vaccinated. In some states, hospital board members and their families were given access early.
While state and local officials did not return our requests for a comment, investigations in other states have found that the fault lies in the lack of guidance or flexibility many health care centers felt when it came to delivering to those most at risk. Because those phases of the rollout were not active, there was not much they could do. Without spreading the vaccine among their staff, health care institutions risked wasting their precious supply.
In Iowa, Phase 1b of the vaccination rollout has begun, making the shots available to Iowans ages 65 and up. But the state, and most others, have not taken more recent CDC advice to open up access to the vaccines to citizens ages 65 and up or those younger with severe comorbidities. Those most at-risk includes patients with cancer, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and chronic pulmonary disease. Instead, Iowa leaders chose to vaccinate prisoners and correctional officers, where hundreds of cases have been reported and at least 16 inmates have died.Public workers have also been added to the Phase 1b list, the state says, the ensure the continuity of government. As for when those with pre-existing conditions will get the vaccine under the proposed Phase 1c, it will all depend on the supply and ability to distribute the vaccine as quickly as possible. Right now, Iowa ranks 47th out of 50 states in distributing the vaccine.
As the first doses were on their way out the door in December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined guidelines for who should get the vaccine first. Their recommendation was frontline workers. States have vaccines delivered straight to the hospitals with such a mandate in place. Ultimately it is states who make the call on who gets the vaccine and when, the federal government is only providing suggestions.
Here in Iowa, a draft completed in December determined the first shots should go to: "Critical workforce who provide healthcare and have direct or indirect exposure to patients in such settings as hospitals and long-term care facilities." A pretty vague statement that, more importantly, did not provide any guidance about what to do once a hospital determined everyone at greatest risk was protected. In many cases, that meant hospital workers that don't work with patients were getting vaccinated. In some states, hospital board members and their families were given access early.
While state and local officials did not return our requests for a comment, investigations in other states have found that the fault lies in the lack of guidance or flexibility many health care centers felt when it came to delivering to those most at risk. Because those phases of the rollout were not active, there was not much they could do. Without spreading the vaccine among their staff, health care institutions risked wasting their precious supply.
In Iowa, Phase 1b of the vaccination rollout has begun, making the shots available to Iowans ages 65 and up. But the state, and most others, have not taken more recent CDC advice to open up access to the vaccines to citizens ages 65 and up or those younger with severe comorbidities. Those most at-risk includes patients with cancer, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and chronic pulmonary disease. Instead, Iowa leaders chose to vaccinate prisoners and correctional officers, where hundreds of cases have been reported and at least 16 inmates have died.Public workers have also been added to the Phase 1b list, the state says, the ensure the continuity of government. As for when those with pre-existing conditions will get the vaccine under the proposed Phase 1c, it will all depend on the supply and ability to distribute the vaccine as quickly as possible. Right now, Iowa ranks 47th out of 50 states in distributing the vaccine.
Loading ...
