JOHNSTON — Iowa is receiving fewer doses of COVID-19 vaccines than originally projected, but the unexpected reduction will not alter the state’s timetable for getting the vaccine to residents and staff of long-term care facilities like nursing homes, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday.
The state originally expected to receive a combined 172,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Late last week, state officials were informed they would instead receive 138,300, a roughly 20% reduction.
Other states were similarly affected by what federal officials said was mistaken forecasts that did not account for the full process of vaccine approval, the Washington Post reported.
Despite the reduction, Reynolds said Wednesday during a news conference at Iowa PBS studios that more than 8,400 hospital workers in Iowa have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, and that the state does not have to delay its plan to begin offering the vaccine next week to long-term care residents and staff.
Reynolds said after acknowledging their error, federal officials adjusted a program that allows pharmacies to help distribute and administer in the vaccine so states can begin that program on schedule.
“Even as we were still gathering more information about the situation, our intent was to find a way to continue moving forward as planned with the priority groups, understanding that some changes would likely be necessary,” Reynolds said. “We’ll remain on schedule to start vaccinating long-term care residents and staff the week of December 28, and we’ve also activated our participation in a similar program for residents in assisted living facilities.”
