(Des Moines, IA) The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) announces the launch of two new features on the state’s COVID-19 website. A vaccine administration dashboard and vaccine provider locator tool deliver a statewide view of the COVID-19 vaccine effort in Iowa.

Vaccine Administration Dashboard

The dashboard includes data visualizations which include key metrics such as:

• Number of individuals who have received one dose or both doses
• Total doses administered by recipient county of residence and by provider county
• Administration rates by age group, sex, race, and ethnicity

Vaccine Provider Map

Vaccine remains in very short supply. As vaccine supply increases, this tool makes finding local vaccine provider information easily accessible to Iowans. Each provider included manages their own vaccine information and scheduling. We are working with vaccine providers to update websites and phone numbers. Not all vaccine providers listed on this website will have vaccines at this time, as supply remains limited. Please check the facility website before calling.

Updated Allocation Information

After meeting with the Biden Administration this week, and reviewing the current allocation cadence, IDPH has accelerated the timetable to allow for an increase in allocations. Beginning the week of February 1, and continuing through the week of February 15, the state will receive the below allocations (1^st Dose) weekly:

• 19,500 of Pfizer
• 25,800 of Moderna

IDPH also learned this week that approximately 64,000 doses of vaccine, originally allocated to the Long-Term Care Pharmacy Partnership Program, can be redistributed to the state’s priority populations. These doses will be sent directly to a limited number of stores to vaccinate individuals 65 years and older. We will provide additional information soon.

Phase 1B which includes, persons aged 65 years and over, or tiered populations vulnerable to high risk of exposure or severity of illness, begins on Monday, February 1. Due to the limited supply of vaccines, it will take the State of Iowa many weeks to reach all individuals in Phase 1B before moving to the next Phase, which will include persons under the age of 65 with health conditions at an increased risk of severe illness.

There continues to be a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine in Iowa. We encourage Iowans to remain patient as more vaccine arrives in the weeks and months ahead. It is also critical to continue practicing the mitigation measures that can slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

• Wear a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing with those outside your household
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
• Stay home if you feel sick
• Get tested if you are exposed to, or have symptoms of COVID-19

w/ Chris Parks

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The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest early Saturday morning of 36-year-old Michael Eugene Squires of Red Oak on a charge of Serious Assault. Squires was arrested at 12:52 a.m. at 419 E Reed Street in Red Oak. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds, Friday, announced appointments to Iowa’s boards and commissions. The following (western/southwest Iowa) appointees are subject to Senate confirmation:

• Alcoholic Beverages Commission:  John Pauli, Carroll
• Environmental Protection Commission:  Lisa Gochenour, Logan
• Flood Mitigation Board:  John Erixon, Council Bluffs
• Iowa Autism Council: Cheryl Mulligan, Shenandoah
• State Board of Educational Examiners:  Erin Schoening, Underwood
• Title Guaranty Division Board: Judy Hilgenberg, Guthrie Center

HIAWATHA, Iowa (AP) — The Linn County Attorney says no one will be charged in the shooting death of a Hiawatha man that also wounded three other people. Joshua Lathrop died in May at a shootout at a mobile home in Hiawatha. KCRG-TV reported Friday that County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden ruled the people who shot Lathrop were acting in self-defense. Investigators say two brothers carrying weapons went to the trailer park after hearing a woman had been attacked.

An intoxicated Lathrop confronted the brothers and hit one of them. A gun battle involving up to 25 shots ensued and Lathrop was shot.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion says the president’s call for a 15-dollar minimum wage doesn’t belong in the pandemic relief bill. She was asked if it is a poison pill. “I don’t like when these packages are filled with liberal policy wish list ideas — that’s what we saw last year with a lot of these packages,” according to Hinson. “I can tell you this, out in the district this week I heard a lot about that 15-dollar minimum wage and how it would be really — you talk about a poison pill — it would be a poison bill to many small businesses and the rural economy here.”

Hinson says the relief should be focused on the areas where it is needed to help those hit by the pandemic. “I don’t think we need to go big for the sake of going big, and we should be going targeted. And that’s my approach to COVID relief,” Hinson says. Hinson says she has seen bipartisan work going on in Washington, citing a recent committee meeting.

“The decorum was there, the bipartisan work was there, we were all asking questions respectfully. I believe that decorum still does exist, that gives me hope,” Hinson says. Hinson made her comments on a conference call with reporters.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill advancing in the Iowa Senate would eliminate the state’s inheritance tax, a move that’s being backed by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. Cora Fox, the association’s government relations director, says the inheritance tax has long been a burden for many Iowans, particularly farmers and ranchers.

Fox says her group is encouraged by the bill’s progress in the Senate.

In addition to impacting farmers and ranchers, Fox says Iowans not involved with agriculture are also adversely affected by the tax.

The bill unanimously passed a subcommittee and will advance to the full Senate Ways and Means Committee. Chairman Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs, says he expects elimination of the inheritance tax to be incorporated into a larger tax policy bill that will be taken up later this session.

Atlantic, IA — Cass County Public Health is beginning to receive a limited supply of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for Tier 1 of Phase 1B, which includes people who are 65 and older, first responders, PK-12 school personnel and childcare workers. CCPH Director Beth Olsen said Friday (today), “We received 100 doses today, and very surprisingly, we received notice that we may be expecting 300 more doses next week. While that’s a very welcome surprise, and we’re prepared to use them quickly, it certainly doesn’t meet the full demand. Many Cass County residents are age 65 and older, and we have a list of more than 2,000 people who are signed up and want to receive the vaccine.”

It is anticipated vaccine allocations will be limited and continue to come in small batches through the next several months. Olsen says “We ask for everyone to be patient as we move through this process together. Please know if you have signed up already there is nothing more you need to do, and we will call and set up an appointment when we have a vaccine available.”

The initial 400 doses will be given to people eligible in either Phase 1A or Tier 1 of Phase 1B, all in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Cass County Public Health anticipates that weekly allocations will become more regular in the coming months, and encourages all residents to stay tuned to updates through local news sources and on Cass County Health System’s website and social media pages.

Until vaccine is widely available to all, it is crucial that Iowans continue to practice the mitigation measures that can slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

• Wearing a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing with those outside your household
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
• Stay home if you feel sick

For information and updates related to COVID-19, visit https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/Vaccine and follow IDPH on Facebook (@IowaDepartmentofPublicHealth) and Twitter (@IAPublicHealth).