Montgomery County has received the first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine. Health officials said Monday the county received 300 doses from Moderna. Of the 300 doses, 200 doses went directly to Montgomery County Memorial Hospital for their staff and 100 doses went to Montgomery County Public Health for EMS providers in the county and other healthcare providers not affiliated with the hospital. All the long-term care and assisted living facilities in the county have been paired with a national pharmacy chain to receive vaccines.

Currently, the county is in Phase 1A of the distribution plan, which includes the groups listed above. After all workers included in Phase 1A are vaccinated, the county may move to Phase 1B. Included in Phase 1B are school and childcare staff, people over 65 years of age, people with underlying health conditions, and non-healthcare essential workers. Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has indicated the next round of vaccine could arrive in January. IDPH hopes the vaccine will be available to the general public by mid-spring 2021.

Montgomery County Public Health and Montgomery County Memorial Hospital encourage anyone with questions regarding the vaccine to call Montgomery County Public Health at 712-623-4893.