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Vaccines are currently only being offered to individuals within the 1A priority group as shown above. We are not offering appointments or signing up individuals for Phase 1B or 1C at this time. We appreciate your patience.
SDHD has been working with our state and local partners to plan for COVID-19 vaccine receipt and distribution for several months. Visit this page for information and updates.
1-6-2021 SDHD Press Release - COVID-19 Vaccine Update for Woodbury County
12-14-2020 SDHD Press Release - COVID-19 Vaccine Update
COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Update - 11.7.2020
SDHD along with all other local and state health departments across the county have begun planning for the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine. Here is what you should know:
1. The safety of COVID-19 vaccines is a top priority. The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible.
2. There may be limited supply of vaccine before the end of 2020 however supply is expected to increase in the weeks and months to follow.
3. Because supply is expected to be limited at first, the vaccine will be prioritized to certain groups such as health care workers, people 65 years of age or older, people at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease due to underlying conditions, and those who work in critical industries where social distancing is difficult. Vaccine supply is expected to increase substantially in 2021 and eventually be available for everyone who wants it.
4. It is anticipated the first available COVID-19 vaccines will require two doses separated by intervals of >21 or >28 days depending on the vaccine product. The different vaccine products will NOT be interchangeable. The series of two doses must be completed with the same vaccine product.
5. COVID-19 vaccines will not give you COVID-19. None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States use the live virus that causes COVID-19. There are several different types of vaccines in development. However, the goal for each of them is to teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.
6. COVID-19 vaccines will not cause you to test positive on COVID-19 viral tests. Vaccines currently in clinical trials in the United States won’t cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. If your body develops an immune response, which is the goal of vaccination, there is a possibility you may test positive on some antibody tests. Antibody tests indicate you had a previous infection and that you may have some level of protection against the virus. Experts are currently looking at how COVID-19 vaccination may affect antibody testing results.
7. People who have gotten sick with COVID-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that re-infection with COVID-19 is possible, people may be advised to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they have been sick with COVID-19 before. At this time, experts do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. The immunity someone gains from having an infection, called natural immunity, varies from person to person. Some early evidence suggests natural immunity may not last very long. We won’t know how long immunity produced by vaccination lasts until we have a vaccine and more data on how well it works.
8. Getting vaccinated can help prevent people from getting sick with COVID-19. While many people with COVID-19 have only a mild illness, others may get a severe illness or they may even die. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you, even if you are not at increased risk of severe complications. If you get sick, you also may spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you while you are sick. COVID-19 vaccination helps protect you by creating an antibody response without having to experience sickness.
9. It is possible to have both the flu and COVID-19 simultaneously making it more important than ever to get a flu vaccine this season. The flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, however flu vaccination has many other important benefits. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death. Getting a flu shot will reduce the risk of becoming hospitalized with the flu and help conserve potentially scarce health care resources. The CDC recommends everyone older than 6 months of age receive a yearly flu vaccine. If you are currently having trouble obtaining a flu shot this year please call SDHD at 712-279-6119 and we can assist you.
10. SDHD is currently working with local health care providers and long-term care facilities to discuss logistics of disseminating the vaccine to their employees and/or residents.
11. SDHD is currently working on providing informational and additional technical assistance on proper storage and handling of the vaccine with partners who plan to provide vaccines.
12. SDHD is currently looking ahead into 2021 and planning for large scale drive through COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Vaccines will also most likely be available at your local medical office and pharmacy.
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