COVID-19 VACCINE
COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN IOWA
T
he FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on December 11, 2020 and for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on December 18, 2020.1,2 However, planning for vaccine distribution in Iowa began long before December 2020. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) internal planning group began officially meeting in mid-August 2020 and reached out to partner organizations, including the Iowa Pharmacy Association and the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, in mid-September.3 IDPH communicated with partner organizations through weekly webinars and shared documents through the Iowa Health Alert Network (HAN).3 These communication strategies have remained throughout the vaccine rollout. On December 2, 2020, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) released their recommendations for priority groups to receive vaccine. On December 4, IDPH announced that an Infectious Disease Advisory Council (IDAC) would be convened to provide clinical guidance for determining priority populations for vaccination in Iowa.3,4 Members of IDAC were intended to represent multiple perspectives with clinical and ethical expertise from across the state.3 Phase 1A in Iowa, as recommended by IDAC, aligned with ACIP recommendations to vaccinate healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities.5 The first doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived at Iowa hospitals on December 14, and healthcare workers began receiving their first doses.6,7 David Conway, RN, an emergency room nurse at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, was the first Iowan to receive the vaccine.7 Long-term care residents began receiving their first doses of vaccine on December 28.8 Vaccinations of long-term care residents and staff in Iowa were provided through the Federal Long-Term Care Pharmacy Partnership Program using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.9 The program assigned long-term care facilities to Walgreens, CVS, or Community Pharmacy to provide vaccinations to current staff and residents.9 IDPH has utilized a localized approach in working with local county public health agencies to directly allocate and distribute vaccine within each county. Each local county public health agency has autonomy to identify local partners for vaccine administration. To identify providers who wish to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, IDPH utilized a REDCap survey that was accompanied by the
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| The Journal of the Iowa Pharmacy Association
CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement.3 Vaccines providers had to be enrolled within the state’s immunization registry, which was a primary tool for capturing and reporting doses provided. Over 500 pharmacies in 96 of Iowa’s 99 counties are state-approved and able to administer COVID-19 vaccines. On February 1, 2021, IDPH activated Phase 1B of vaccine distribution.11 Phase 1B will include individuals aged 65 years and older, and a tiered-approach for first responders, PreK-12 school staff and childcare workers, individuals living in congregate settings other than college dormitories, government officials, health and safety inspectors, and correctional facility staff.11 Since the number of eligible Iowans has exceeded the number of available vaccines, these populations were further divided into five tiers to accommodate continued short supply of vaccine.11 The vaccine rollout has brought criticism into the federal process as Iowa has received some of the smallest vaccine allocations in the nation.12 As the new Biden Administration announced plans to secure 200 million additional doses of vaccine, IDPH has reported that Iowa’s vaccine allocation would slowly begin to increase beginning in February.12 Given the increased population that will become eligible for vaccination in Phase 1B and anticipated increased vaccine supply, the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program is expected to be activated sooner than expected to improve vaccine distribution utilizing additional community pharmacy partners with direct allocation from the federal government. IPA continues to work directly with IDPH and other key stakeholders across the state to ensure equitable and efficient distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to all Iowans. Stay tuned to IPA communications for the latest information.
SOURCES:
1. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. FDA. January 12, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine. 2. Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. FDA. January 6, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/moderna-covid-19-vaccine. 3. Iowa COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy Working Draft Version 2.0. Iowa Department of Public Health. December 4, 2020. https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/61/covid19/vaccine/V%202%20IOWA%20 COVID-19%20VACCINATION%20STRATEGY%2012_4_20_FINAL.pdf. 4. Infectious Disease Advisory Council (IDAC) COVID-19 Vaccine and Therapeutics Priority Distribution Framework. IDPH. December 4, 2020. https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/61/covid19/vaccine/ IDAC_Framework_Dec2020.pdf. 5. Vaccine Shortage Order. IDPH. December 14, 2020. https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/61/ covid19/vaccine/Vaccine%20Shortage%20Order%20Phase%201-A%20FIN.pdf. 6. COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Iowa, first doses administered. KCCI Des Moines. December 14, 2020. https://www.kcci.com/article/first-doses-of-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-arrive-in-iowa/34962755. 7. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine delivered to UI Hospitals & Clinics. UIHC. December 14, 2020. https://uihc. org/pfizer-biontech-vaccine-delivered-ui-hospitals-clinics. 8. Stein E. Vaccinations begin in long term care facilities in Iowa. KCRG Cedar Rapids. December 29, 2020. https://www.kcrg.com/2020/12/30/vaccinations-begin-in-long-term-care-facilities-in-iowa/. 9. COVID-19 Vaccine Update. Leading Age Iowa. https://www.leadingageiowa.org/lai-covid-19news---12-7-2020. 10. Iowa COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Administered Report. IDPH. January 25, 2021. https://idph.iowa. gov/Portals/1/userfiles/61/COVID19%20Vaccine%20Administration.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_ source=govdelivery. 11. Phase 1-B Supplemental Vaccine Shortage Order. IDPH. January 21, 2021. https://idph.iowa.gov/ Portals/1/userfiles/61/covid19/vaccine/COVID%20Vaccine%20Shortage%20Order%20Phase%201-B%20 FINAL_1_21_21%20%281%29.pdf. 12. Price D. Iowa’s COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Will Increase Next Week, health Department Confirms. WHO13 Des Moines. January 26, 2021. https://who13.com/news/coronavirus/iowas-covid-19-vaccinesupply-will-increase-next-week-health-department-confirms/.
