Wright County Public Health allocates first round of COVID vaccine

Sandy McGrath of Wright County Public Health announced early this morning that they have allocated the first round of the COVID vaccine to Iowa Specialty Hospital for their front line workers.

McGrath stated, “I intend to allocate doses until their staff is fully vaccinated.”

McGrath, realizing that there is some hesitance about the safety of the shot amongst the public, was among the very first people in Wright County to take the shot Wednesday morning, Dec. 23. She did so in hopes to reaffirm to the public that this vaccine is absolutely safe and gotten by residents.

“This is not a live virus,” assured McGrath. “You will not get COVID (by getting the vaccine). You will not test positive for COVID (after the shot).”

She went on to explain reassure the public about the vaccines safety by saying that all new vaccines undergo a rigorous routine of testing before it is allowed to be administered to the public, so you can rest easy in that knowledge before getting your own shot.

“I have complete confidence and faith in taking this shot myself,” said McGrath.

As with any vaccination, McGrath said that some people may experience mild side effects such as discomfort and/or swelling at the vaccine site, chills, fatigue, sore muscles, and headaches. However, these will be mild and should last less than 24 hours.

“These are pretty common side effects…even for the flu vaccine,” McGrath noted. “Early results of this COVID vaccine are showing no serious side effects.”

The vaccine delivered to Wright County is from Moderna. According to McGrath, there are 10 doses in every vial. Each vial must be used within six hours of its first dose. She also clarified that despite some talk, the Moderna vaccine does not require the use of fetal cell cultures.

McGrath said that this Moderna vaccination would also help protect people against the new UK strain of COVID.

“These viruses have a tendency to mutate…but this vaccine we are giving now will help protect people against the variant strain being talked about in the UK,” said McGrath.

Public Health, Wright County Emergency Management, and Iowa Specialty Hospital have worked diligently together to set up a plan of how the vaccine will be administered to the people of Wright County, Iowa. Phase 1 will include all healthcare workers and first responders. Phase 2: High-risk patients who have pre-existing conditions. Phase 3 will be the general public.

“Wright County Public health will use the local newspapers, the Wright County Public Health website/Facebook, and the Wright County Emergency Management Facebook page to announce when we will be setting up vaccinations,” said McGrath.

If you are under isolation because you are currently COVID positive, or if you are under quarantine because you have been exposed to COVID, McGrath says you should refrain from getting the vaccination at that time. It is not that the vaccine wouldn’t be effective, but rather it is for the safety of those administering the shots. If you are positive/exposed, and you came for the shot, then you would be exposing them and potentially making them sick as well. She does, however, encourage those who have recovered from COVID, but have done so in the last 90 days, to absolutely come in for their vaccines as soon as possible.

“Don’t wait for the end of 90 days because you think you have immunity to it,” she said.

McGrath reminds the public, Moderna is a TWO DOSE vaccination. A second shot is required, to be effective, 28 days after the first shot. Fourteen days after the second shot is when you will be considered fully protected from COVID…so it takes about six weeks from the initial vaccination shot.

Again, McGrath strongly encourages everyone to get the COVID vaccine shot when they are eligible. It takes all of us working together to get past this pandemic. It won’t happen overnight as it will take time to get enough doses delivered to Iowa, and it will take time to get them administered. Throughout the next several months, people are asked to continue wearing their masks, washing their hands, and practicing social distancing.

“The pandemic will not stop until we can take away the host,” said McGrath.