Slow vaccine distribution? Not so much in South Dakota

     

The first public vaccination clinic offered in Scott County, Iowa, quickly filled up.

Meantime, it's safest to wear masks (of course!)

    Residents of the Quad-Cities -- which includes both Iowa and Illinois municipalities -- see first-hand what COVID-19 vaccine distribution looks like from state-to-state.

    As this blog post is written, those eligible for a vaccine are offered a drive-through clinic in Milan, Ill. It is made possible by a partnership between Rock Island County, Illinois, public health officials and a business owner who offers his large property for the clinics. In addition, grocery stores and drug stores are poised to give out the vaccine in Illinois.

    There is a more measured pace in Iowa. 

    On the Scott County Health Department website Thursday, Jan. 28, a clear message was given: The supply of the vaccine was described as "VERY limited," and the amount that comes into the community varies from week-to-week. "Demand for the vaccine remains very high" it said online. "Not all members of a Priority Group or a Tier will be able to receive a vaccine immediately."

    The Scott County Health Department has announced that clinics would be offered starting Feb. 1 at the former Sears store at NorthPark Mall. The 600 slots for this clinic are filled.

    The situation in South Dakota is useful to understand, especially to Iowans who see similarities between the two Midwestern states. South Dakota does have fewer residents: There are less than 1 million in this state while there are almost 3 million citizens in Iowa.

    As reported by National Public Radio (NPR), South Dakota led the nation in COVID-19 deaths in November. Now, it is one of the leading states in the U.S. for getting the vaccine into arms of its residents.

    One key factor is that a provider called Monument Health Rapid City Hospital is the only health system in western South Dakota. This organization gets the entire allotment of vaccine for that part of the state. It has one centralized place from which the vaccine is distributed.

    Dr. Shankar Kurra, Vice President of medical affairs for Monument Health, explained to NPR that the health system gets about 3,000 vaccines (from Pfizer) a week, and they get the message out effectively. By the end of that week, 100 percent of the vaccines are given out.

    Not knowing the exact number from week-to-week is a challenge, Kurra said, nothing the virus effect in November help to spur interest in residents to actually get a vaccine. 

    The physician provided NPR a rough outline of what happens every week:  On Mondays, the state health department asks each of three health systems in South Dakota: "How's it going?" The state requests   estimates on how many vaccines are needed, and Monument provides a number and justifies it. 

    On Tuesdays, the state makes the allocation to all three systems in the South Dakota regions. On Wednesdays, the hospital staff draws up a list and schedules are made. The vaccines are given on Thursdays and Fridays.

    Hospital staff has gotten agile in giving out doses, Kurra said, noting if they have five doses and four people, a fifth is found to get a vaccine.

    This makes all kinds of good sense. 

    Vaccine distribution is now a moving target but it is clearing ramping up. The South Dakota physician estimates the state will reach its vaccination goal by the end of the summer, and that's a common estimate throughout America.

    South Dakota helps us to understand how this process works in at least one part of the United States.


Websites:

1. U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention vaccine statistics:

https://data.cdc.gov/Vaccinations/COVID-19-Vaccine-Distribution-Allocations-by-Juris/saz5-9hgg

2. National Public Radio story and text of effective vaccine distribution in South Dakota:

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/25/960465868/south-dakota-among-leading-states-in-covid-19-vaccine-distribution

3. Iowa Department of Public Health, information on vaccine phases and tiers:

https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus/Vaccine/Information-for-the-Public

4. Scott County, Iowa, Health Department on vaccine clinics

https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/health/covid19/vaccine/vaccine-clinic



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