Iowa news
Second COVID-19 vaccine doses could be delayed for 14,000 Polk County residents
Polk County health officials are reporting that as many as 14,000 people who received their first dose of the COVID-19 Moderna vaccine through the public health department may be delayed in getting their second dose. Officials say the department received less Moderna doses this month compared to January and doesn’t have enough to administer all follow-up Moderna vaccinations in the recommended two-week period. (KCCI)
Hospital leaders predict staff challenges as post-coronavirus priority
On top of other challenges health care systems have faced as Iowa begins to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, leaders at area hospitals say they are grappling not only with workforce shortages but also with what it means to support a health care team that has been traumatized by COVID-19 over the past year. Chief executive officers from the hospitals in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City said this week one of their biggest concerns as their systems plan for a post-pandemic future is helping their health care providers cope with lingering stress and burnout, even as recruitment and staffing remain a challenge. (The Gazette)
Why it seemed positive coronavirus cases spiked in Iowa
Iowans who visited the Iowa Department of Public Health’s public coronavirus dashboard late Friday may have been surprised by what appeared to be a spike of more than 27,000 new cases. But the number of people with coronavirus didn’t suddenly skyrocket — what changed was how the health department presented the data. The state first announced plans for the change last Wednesday. The site previously displayed data on an individual-by-individual basis. After the change, it now displays data on a test-by-test basis. (Des Moines Register)
National news
Executives with Pfizer, Moderna say they’re ramping up vaccine supplies
Executives with Pfizer and Moderna said the companies are ramping up their supplies of coronavirus vaccines, with shipments expected to double and possibly triple in the coming weeks, in congressional testimony Tuesday. In a prepared statement before a House subcommittee, John Young, Pfizer’s chief business officer, said the company plans to increase its delivery capacity of 4-5 million doses a week to more than 13 million by mid-March. (NBC News)
New analyses show Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose vaccine works well
The one-shot coronavirus vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson provides strong protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19, and may reduce the spread of the virus by vaccinated people, according to new analyses by the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine had a 72% efficacy rate in the US and 64% in South Africa, where a highly contagious variant emerged in the fall and is now driving most cases. The efficacy in South Africa was seven points higher than earlier data released by the company. (The New York Times)
Pharmacists say ‘pooling’ COVID-19 vaccines could save thousands of doses
As millions of people across the country line up for their coronavirus vaccination shots, health officials are struggling to meet the surging demand, the result of short supplies. Some pharmacists say a simple solution could get thousands more people vaccinated each week, but the Food and Drug Administration is standing in the way. (NBC News)