Comment on In letter to state, Linn Public Health criticizes allocation of 1-dose COVID vaccines

The state’s decision to allocate one-shot COVID-19 vaccines to colleges and other groups is “heartbreaking” to local public health officials who have been “requesting, even begging, for several weeks” to receive doses to administer to vulnerable populations, Linn County Public Health stated this week.In a letter sent to state officials Wednesday, Linn County Public Health asked the Governor’s Office to allocate the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to local public health agencies and allow them to determine what’s best for their jurisdictions.“It is becoming increasingly clear that the Governor’s Office does not trust local public health to identify and serve individuals in our community who are most vulnerable,” wrote Tricia Kitzmann, community health division manager, in the letter.She continued, “I am struggling to understand why the Governor’s Office will not listen to those that know their communities best and work with us to identify the best strategies susceptible to barriers to accessing vaccine and experience social determinates of health.”Kitzmann’s letter, obtained by The Gazette, was sent to leadership at the Iowa Department of Public Health, including Director Kelly Garcia.