Eastern Iowa Health Center opens COVID-19 vaccine appointments to all

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Eastern Iowa Health Center has opened its COVID-19 vaccine clinic to anyone age 18 and older.

The Cedar Rapids-based clinic, which is a federally qualified health center, will offer the two-dose Moderna vaccine, according to a news release Monday. People who receive the first dose will be scheduled for the follow-up second dose, officials said.

Those seeking a COVID-19 vaccine can schedule an appointment with the Eastern Iowa Health Center online. The website is: eihc.ourscheduling.com/926/doctors.

The health center previously was limiting its vaccine appointments to its patients, who often fall into economically or medically vulnerable populations. They are low-income, are uninsured or otherwise face barriers to accessing health care.

Officials emphasized they still are working to reach these vulnerable populations.

“We continue to contact Eastern Iowa Health Center patients via email, phone and text to encourage them to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine, emphasizing that a vaccine is an important tool to help end the pandemic,” said Joe Lock, president and CEO.

Earlier this month, the health center joined dozens of other federally qualified health centers across the U.S. in a new federal allocation program to direct COVID-19 vaccines toward underserved populations.

However, the same week the Eastern Iowa Health Center received its shipment of Johnson & Johnson vaccines, providers across the nation were advised to pause distribution of the one-shot vaccine. Federal health officials had announced it was investigating cases of rare and severe blood clotting that occurred in six Americans after receiving the Johnson & Johnson shot.

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