Floyd Valley Healthcare And Plymouth County Community Health Department Establishes On-line Vaccination Scheduling System
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare and the Plymouth County Community Health Department are pleased to announce that together they have created a COVID-19 Vaccine On-Line Scheduling system. According to Tara Geddes, Floyd Valley
Community Health Manager, “This new scheduling system will be available for all vaccinations going forward, beginning today, Thursday, March 4, 2021.”
Geddes says, “We understood the frustration with the current roll-out of vaccines and the ability to get signed up in a timely manner. So, together with Floyd Valley Healthcare we created an online scheduling system that will serve as another method for our community members to get registered to receive their vaccines. For those that don’t have access to online scheduling, we do still have our vaccine phone line available by calling
(712)546-3646.” said Tara Geddes, Floyd Community Health manager.
Dustin Wright, CEO of Floyd Valley Healthcare continued, “We are very happy to offer this additional scheduling service to our community members. The new scheduling link is set to go live on Thursday, March 4th and I would like to encourage everyone to take advantage of the new system.
“We are currently scheduling for a vaccine clinic on Tuesday, March 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. At this particular clinic, we will have the Johnson & Johnson vaccine available for those in Tier 2, which includes frontline essential workers in the food, agricultural, distribution, and manufacturing sectors who work in or live in congregate settings that do not allow for social distancing. All appointments are available by clicking on the link
which is located on our Floyd Valley Healthcare website www.floydvalley.org and clicking the link below:
https://Floydvalleyhealthcaevaccinescheduling.as.me/?appointmentType=20924602
Geddes stated, “When all time slots have been filled, or if you are unable to use the online system, please call (712) 546-3646 and leave a message that you would like to
receive the vaccine.”
Governor Reynolds Receives COVID-19 Vaccination
(Des Moines) — In an effort to encourage all Iowans to get a COVID-19 vaccination, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, along with her husband Kevin Reynolds, and Iowa Department of Human Services director Kelly Garcia all received their vaccination shot Wednesday morning during the governor’s news media conference. Johnson and Johnson was recently given approval to
distribute its COVID-19 vaccine. Unlike Pfizer and Merderna, Johnson and Johnson is a one-time vaccination. Reporters asked why the governor chose
Wednesday to get her Johnson and Johnson vaccination, when the vaccine from both Pfizer and Mederna have been available for several weeks.
The governor then expanded on her remarks about wanting to wait until the healthcare workers were vaccinated first, since there were limited amounts of supply of the vaccine.
Reynolds says she has confidence in the one-time Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and she believes with three vaccines now on the market, more people will have the opportunity to get vaccinated. After people get vaccinated they are encouraged to wait at least 15 minutes as part of an observation period to
see if any reaction effects take place. Reynolds was asked how she was feeling following her vaccination shot?
Reynolds told reporters that her administration staff is working with local pharmacies, and federal officials to make certain the vaccines are widely distributed and that all eligible people will be able to get their COVID-19 vaccination.
Iowa has been allocated an initial total of 25,600 doses of the Johnson and Johnson coronavirus vaccine.
Older Iowans Can Call 2-1-1 Call Center For Assistance To Set Up Vaccination Appointments
(Des Moines) — People age 65 and up will be given some assistance in trying to set an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination by dialing the 2-1-1 call center. 75 navigational operators have been assigned to assist older Iowans
who may not have a computer, or direct access to the internet, or who may have had difficulty in setting an appointment for vaccinations. Governor Kim Reynolds made the announcement during her Wednesday morning news conference.
The program is set to begin next week on March 9th. Melissa McCoy, the director of Iowa’s 2-1-1 call center appeared on the governor’s weekly news conference and offered an explanation as to how the program will work.
McCoy suggests patients arrive at least ten minutes early for their vaccination appointment. People will be directed to visit a HyVee pharmacy near them.
Reynolds Say All Iowa Teachers Should Be Given Vaccination By End Of April
(Des Moines) — President Biden has said he wants to see all teachers be given their COVID-19 vaccination within the next month. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds was asked during her Wednesday news conference if Iowa was on pace to have the state’s teachers protected against the COVID-19 virus?
COVID-19 Closing In On One Year Anniversary
(Des Moines) — Governor Kim Reynolds reflected on the one-year anniversary of the the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, and says everyday officials have learned something new about the virus. Reynolds says she is proud of her team as to how they have managed the situation. So far, only about six percent of Iowans have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, the
governor was asked if that is a reflection of many people who may not want to be given a vaccine against COVID?
The Iowa governor says it is sometimes difficult for people to schedule the second appointment for the second dosage of vaccination.
Reynolds says she believes more Iowans will be making the appointments to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
Iowa Workforce Development Adds Remote/Work From Home Jobs to Website
(Des Moines, IA) — The state’s official jobs website is offering some new options as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Iowa Workforce Development is adding a remote/work from home jobs display to its website in an effort to help job seekers who are specifically looking for that type of opportunity.
Workforce director Beth Townsend says the new tab should make it easier for Iowans to identify and apply for those jobs. She notes there are more than 76-thousand overall jobs available statewide on the site. Townsend is also encouraging the state’s employers to post their remote and work from home
opportunities on IowaWORKS-dot-gov.
Iowa House Advances Bill On Presidential Executive Orders
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa House Republicans are backing a bill that would direct any state institutions receiving public funding to not enforce some presidential executive orders. The Iowa attorney general’s office would be asked to review the specific orders and try to get the state out of following them. Republican State Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake says the
executive branch has been taking powers away from the states. Wills says it’s important to balance the federal and state powers. Democratic State Representative Christina Bohannon of Iowa City is a law professor. She says presidents do sometimes issue too many executive orders, but she says part of this bill is likely unconstitutional.
Governor Blames Data Error For Iowa’s Low Rate Of Administering Vaccines
(Des Moines, IA) — The state of Iowa is making progress in getting more of its people vaccinated. The latest numbers show 17-percent of the state’s residents have now received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only six-percent have received the second dose, according to the C-D-C – and that’s one of the lowest rates in the country. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds
blames a data error. She says many second-dose vaccinations at long-term care facilities were not properly reported by chain pharmacies. The governor says she expects the issue to be resolved soon.
Suspect Dies in Crash Following High Speed Chase in Linn and Benton Counties
(Belle Plaine, IA) — The Iowa State Patrol is investigating a high-speed chase Wednesday morning that left a man dead and a woman hospitalized.
A Linn County sheriff’s deputy spotted the suspect vehicle blow through a stop sign and the van refused to pull over. Officers say the pursuit reached speeds of 115 miles per hour on Highway 30 and continued into Belle Plaine when the van drove off the road and hit a culvert. The man driving was ejected and died at the scene. A woman passenger was airlifted to U-I Hospitals with serious injuries. No names have been released.
February 2021 Makes Top 10 For Iowa’s Coldest Ever
(Des Moines, IA) — The state’s weather watchers are confirming something most Iowans already know – February was brutally cold. State climatologist Justin Glisan says many communities set new record lows and average temperatures for the month were anywhere from ten to 15 degrees below normal.
The first half of February was the coldest start to the month since 1936.
Mapleton in Monona County set a new record of 35-below zero on February 16th.
Glisan says the statewide average temp last month was about 12 degrees which makes it a top ten coldest February on record. Snowfall was ten inches on average statewide – three inches above normal.
Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Could Lose License Over Remote Learning
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Board of Education Examiners has informed the superintendent of Des Moines public schools he could lose his license because the district is only offering remote learning. The board found probable cause that Superintendent Thomas Ahart violated the emergency health proclamation by failing to submit a return-to-learn plan for the current academic year. The state board reports receiving multiple complaints about
the issue. Iowa’s governor required schools to provide at last one-half of their instruction in-person but offered waivers to school districts when the virus test positivity rate topped 15-percent.
Stuart Man Charged With Harassment Over Voice Mail Message Left With Governor’s Office
(Des Moines, IA) — A 48-year-old Stuart man is charged with harassment for leaving a profane voice mail with the governor’s office. The message was left January 5th when Harvey Eugene Hunter was upset over COVID-19 regulations. Investigators say Hunter became increasingly agitated and his voice became more aggressive, saying the governor should be put in front of a
firing squad. He called COVID-19 a scam. Hunter was arrested February 3rd and released on bond. He entered a not guilty plea Wednesday during a court appearance.
