WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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A limited supply of about 5,000 Covid-19 vaccines are expected to arrive at IU Health Bloomington Hospital later this week.
Last Wednesday, the Monroe County Board of Health discussed its strategy for distributing the Covid-19 vaccine – which will likely be from the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer.
Penny Caudill, Monroe County Health Administrator, said said healthcare workers are a top priority in the county plan. Caudill mentioned the vaccine contains two doses – the second of which gives you immunity from the virus.
“The hospitals are prepared to accept the vaccine in the next week or 10 days,” she said, “once the emergency use authorization is given to have vaccine and to immediately start vaccinating healthcare personnel.”
Celinda Leach, Chair of the Monroe County Board of Directors, inquired specifically about the 5,000 vaccines. She noted that for a five-county region, 5,000 vaccines may not be enough. The five counties include: Monroe, Lawrence, Owen, Greene and Brown counties. Penny Caudill deferred the question to Amy Meek, program director at the IU Health Bloomington Hospital.
“To me, that didn’t sound like very much – 5,000 doses in a five-county area,” said Leach.
Chairman Mark Norell asked Meek which government entity determines who receives the vaccine and when. Meek responded by saying the state of Indiana will determine who is eligible to receive the vaccine on a first-come-first-serve basis. Norell expressed concern that this was not the best way to distribute the vaccine, and he wanted assurance that long-term care facilities would be prioritized.
“First-come, first-serve is really not that good of a way to do it,” said Norell.
Dr. Thomas Sharp, Monroe County Health Commissioner, said that after talks with IU Health President Brian Shockney, the vaccine would prioritize long-term care facilities.
“They have a plan,” said Dr. Sharp. “It’s been very carefully taken care of.”
Monroe County Health Commissioner Carol Touloukian asked where the vaccine will be administered. Meek said that the vaccine itself will be stored at subzero temperatures in the hospital pharmacy. Meek clarified that vaccinations will take place in a building behind the hospital called the Medical Arts Building.
Norell said that IU Health and Monroe County need to remain as transparent as possible. He noted that the Covid-19 vaccine is a matter of great public concern.
“I would encourage both parties, the hospital and the health department, to be very public about these plans,” said Norell.
The Indiana State Department of Health released a vaccine plan on its website. First, the FDA needs to approve an emergency use authorization. Then, ISDH says that the vaccine awaits approval by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Then, the ISDH Vaccine Allocation Plan Development Advisory Group will make final recommendations on the ethical and equitable distribution of the limited supply of vaccines.
