Health Department and Partners Expand COVID-19 Vaccination to Healthcare Workers in Phase 1A to Additional Groups

January 5, 2021

(Des Moines, IA) – The Polk County Health Department will begin offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all healthcare workers eligible for vaccination in Phase 1A, beginning Monday, January 11, 2021.  The vaccinations will be offered at the Polk County Health Department and select community pharmacies by appointment only.

“Community pharmacies are an important partner in our campaign to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare workers,” said Helen Eddy, RPh, Polk County Health Department Director. “Initial pharmacy locations are limited due to vaccine supply but we will expand the available locations as supply of the vaccine improves.”

The initial pharmacy partners include Hy-Vee, Medicap, and Drake University College of Pharmacy.  Locations include:

“Hy-Vee looks forward to offering these COVID-19 vaccinations at our pharmacies and in partnership with the Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences,” said Aaron Wiese, Hy-Vee’s executive vice president of business innovation and chief health officer. “Our pharmacies have extensive experience providing vaccinations to our patients and serve as a convenient location for the public to receive immunizations. Our team of pharmacists and technicians are highly trained and ready to assist with this county effort.”

“Our college is pleased to partner with Hy-Vee and be one of the sites selected to offer the COVID-19 vaccine. Our Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students entered the pharmacy profession to make a difference and, with their intensive and comprehensive vaccine training, are well prepared to administer this life-saving vaccine for COVID. I am proud that the pharmacy profession and our college are able to be part of the solution to this pandemic,” said Renae Chesnut, EdD, MBA, RPh, Drake University, Dean & Professor - College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences.

“As a state legislator and a community pharmacist, I’m pleased to be part of the effort to immunize our front line healthcare workers. And I look forward to the day, hopefully soon, when the vaccine will be widely available to the general public,” said John Forbes, RPh, owner of Urbandale Medicap and legislator representing the Iowa House of Representatives, District 40.

“We at Medicap Pharmacy including the Grimes and Easton Boulevard pharmacy location in Des Moines, are pleased and excited to work with Polk County Public Health to administer the Moderna COVID vaccine to front line workers right now, and all healthcare workers, essential workers and the general public eventually,” said Greg Johansen, R.Ph., F.A.C.A., president of GRX Holdings, LLC. “This public health pandemic suppression project is our civic duty to be involved with as pharmacy professionals and we look upon the challenge humbly in service to our communities.”

Appointments will be available to all healthcare workers on a first come, first served basis.  The number of appointments and locations are based upon current vaccine supply.

“The Polk County Health Department is committed to equitably and effectively allocating and administering COVID-19 pandemic vaccines to our community,” said Eddy. “Community pharmacies are invaluable partners in achieving that goal.”

Please visit https://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/health-department/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-information-for-the-public/ for the most current vaccine information.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Registration Information

The Polk County Health Department is now prepared to expand the COVID-19 vaccination of healthcare workers in Polk County in Phase 1A to additional groups.  The healthcare workers that may now receive the COVID-19 vaccination include:

• Non-affiliated Medical Practice Staff

Vaccine Locations

Vaccine is available at the several locations in Polk County.  ALL locations will require that healthcare workers bring the following to their appointment:

• Mask: everyone will be required to wear one. If you do not have one, a mask will be provided to you.
• Photo form of personal identification: driver’s license, passport, or state identification card AND employment verification: employer issued badge or identification or proof of licensure.
• If you are pregnant or lactating, you are required to consult with your Primary Care Physician before-hand and come with a note from them stating you are ok to receive the vaccine.

Polk County Health Department

1907 Carpenter Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50314

515-286-6155

• You may schedule an appointment at the Polk County Health Department here: https://www.immunizepolk.com/

Hy-Vee Pharmacies and Drake University

Hy-Vee Pharmacy #4                          Hy-Vee Pharmacy                   Hy-Vee Pharmacy #2

4605 Fleur Drive                                 108 8^th Street SW                     1025 SW State Street

Des Moines, IA 50321                         Altoona, IA 50009                   Ankeny, IA 50023

515-285-1733                                      515-967-3765                          515-964-0656

Hy-Vee Pharmacy #4                           Drake University Harkin Center

555 South 51^st Street                            2800 University Avenue

West Des Moines, IA 50265                Des Moines, IA 50311

515-221-2751                                      Please enter from 29^th Street                           

• You may schedule an appointment at the Hy-Vee and Drake locations here:  https://www.hy-vee.com/my-pharmacy/covid-vaccine-consent
• Appointments may be scheduled at the above link.

Medicap Pharmacies

Medicap Pharmacy                              Medicap Pharmacy

250 SE Gateway Drive                        2527 Easton Blvd

Grimes, IA 50111                                Des Moines, IA 50317

515-986-0101                                      515-266-2694

• You may schedule an appointment at the Grimes Medicap pharmacy here:  https://hipaa.jotform.com/203496798588177

• You may schedule an appointment at the Easton Blvd Medicap pharmacy here: https://hipaa.jotform.com/203496319988170

Medicap Pharmacy

8170 Douglas Avenue

Urbandale, IA 50322

515-276-3471

• You may schedule an appointment at the Urbandale Medicap  pharmacy here:  www.medicapurbandale.com  

If there are no appointments available, please check back periodically.  Additional appointments will be added as vaccine becomes available.

If you have questions regarding a specific location, please contact the pharmacy directly at the phone number listed for that site.

Recommendations:

Medical practices should prioritize their employees for vaccination based upon their risk, frequency, immediacy and duration of exposure to COVID-19, per the Iowa Department of Public Health Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (IDAC) recommendations. The IDAC recommendations may be found at: 

https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/282/IDAC%20Recommendations%201-A%20AMENDED%2012_18_2020.pdf

Employee vaccination times should be staggered so not everyone on your team is receiving the vaccine at the same time. We ask you to think about a priority system among staff within your organization. Staff who work directly with customers and the public or those who are in situations where the virus can be easily transmitted should receive the vaccine first before those who can continue to work from home. Practices should also prioritize staff with frequent, extended patient contact. Create a plan that looks at staff by the critical infrastructure within your operations. This will help to ensure continuity of operations for your staff.