With approval from federal officials, pediatricians, public health officials, pharmacies and other vaccine providers across the state have begun administering COVID-19 vaccines to children aged five to 11 years.
U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final signoff to Pfizer’s kid-size COVID-19 shot, a milestone that opens a major expansion of the nation’s vaccination campaign to children as young as 5.
Nov. 1 was the deadline for UnityPoint Health workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or request an exemption. Employees that fail to be vaccinated and don’t meet the criteria for an exemption will be placed on administrative leave.
MercyOne, the health care system that operates hospitals and clinics across Iowa, is extending its COVID-19 vaccination mandate to Nov. 12. Under a new state law, employees previously denied a religious or medical exemption have the opportunity to file for a waiver.
Researchers surveyed more than 5,000 Iowans in small towns across the state to gauge how the COVID-19 pandemic effected them. They found while the mental health impact was greater in the smallest towns, larger communities -- including meat packing towns -- were more likely to report worsening physical health and financial strains during the pandemic.
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine children ages 5 to 11. CDC will give final review next week, last step before vaccinations can begin.
To date, no Iowa City VA Health Care System employee has left their role or faced disciplinary action as a result of a federal mandate for all workers to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Front line workers had until Oct. 18 to get the shots or request accomodation. All other VA employees have until Nov. 22.
Federal approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 is expected by the first week in November, officials say. In the meantime, experts with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics answer questions about the shots.
The University of Iowa has identified 77 more damaged or at-risk windows in its Stead Family Children’s Hospital that need an emergency “safety film” — costing another $771,516.
For the second week in a row, at least 100 COVID-19 deaths were confirmed by the state public health department. As of Wednesday, the statewide death toll since March 2020 totals 6,965.
Iowa, along with other states, is receiving an advanced shipment of 99,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses by Nov. 4 to facilitate a quick start to the new phase of the nationwide vaccination campaign. Federal approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 is expected by the first week in November.
The U.S. moved a step closer to expanding COVID-19 vaccinations for millions more children as a panel of government advisers on Tuesday endorsed kid-size doses of Pfizer's shots for 5- to 11-year-olds.
With booster shots for all three COVID-19 vaccines approved by federal regulators, the Iowa Department of Public Health has issued guidance for Iowans who want to receive one of the boosters.
Federal officials are expected to approve COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 by next month. What questions do you have about vaccines for children? Send them our way and we’ll work to answer them.
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