Local rates of COVID-19 vaccination increases

Rock County and southwest Minnesota residents are steadily finding increased access to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to local public health officials.
Last week the vaccination priority groups were expanded to the second and third tiers of Phase 1b. Tier 1 of Phase 1b included people 65 years and older, teachers and child care providers.
Phase 1a included health care workers, long-term care facility residents, and group home residents.
“Expanding to the next two tiers of Phase 1B couldn’t have been more timely,” said Jason Kloss of Southwest Health and Human Services.
“Filling appointments at vaccination clinics was becoming more challenging, especially in our region.”
He said most people in the previous priority phases that wanted the vaccine have been vaccinated.
Following are the groups included in the next two tiers of Phase 1b. All people in these two tiers and the previous phases are eligible to be vaccinated, Kloss said
Phase 1b, Tier 2 —high-risk populations:
People age 16 or 18 years and older with Sickle cell, Down Syndrome, active cancer treatment, immune-compromised from organ transplant, oxygen-dependent chronic lung or heart conditions.
People with rare conditions or disabilities that put them at higher risk.
Phase 1b, Tier 2 —essential workers including:
Employees of food processing facilities.
Phase 1b, Tier 3 —high-risk populations:
People age 45-64 years with one or more underlying medical conditions listed below. People age 16 or 18 to 44 years old with two or more underlying medical conditions listed below. People age 50 and older in multigenerational housing.
Phase 1b, Tier —essential workers:
Agriculture, additional school and child care workers, airport staff, correctional settings, first responders, food production, food retail (grocery), food service, judicial system workers, manufacturing, postal service workers, public transit workers and public health workers.
Kloss said several providers in Luverne now offer COVID vaccinations.
“Sanford Luverne is currently offering vaccine to clients that meet the definition of high risk,” he said. “Extra doses and open appointments will be offered to those essential workers on their wait list.”
Lewis Family Drug also provides COVID vaccinations.
“Their vaccination schedule is currently full, but they are hoping to get additional doses soon,” Kloss said. “There are other pharmacies in our region that are also offering vaccinations.”
He said SWHHS is now focusing on offering vaccinations to employees of food processing plants in the region.
“We will be vaccinating employees of Premium Pork in Luverne in the coming week. Essential workers in Tier 3 will be our next focus,” Kloss said. “SWHHS continues to work closely with our partners at Sanford Luverne and Lewis Family Drug to ensure our residents have an opportunity to be vaccinated. The good news is that the vaccine supply is increasing and as each week passes, more people are being vaccinated.”
To be notified of vaccination clinic opportunities, please register using the survey located on the website at SWHHS.com. Eligible people and essential workers will be notified by email of vaccination clinics that we schedule.