Vaccination rollout stalls

by Tom Coombe
Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital has administered 170 COVID-19 vaccinations, but further rollout has been temporarily stalled.
A news release issued by the hospital this week indicated that local vaccinations are based on the rollout plan created by the Minnesota Department of Health, in accordance with the Center for Disease Control and federal Food and Drug Administration.
Hospital employees and area emergency personnel were among the first to be vaccinated in what’s been dubbed Phase 1a of the vaccination distribution across Minnesota.
But progressing further in Ely hinges on outside influences.
“The biggest obstacle we face is the inability to move onto the next phase without the state’s go-ahead,” said Patti Banks, chief executive officer of EBCH. “Even though we are done with Phase 1a after next week, currently, we are being asked to wait until everyone is done with Phase 1a.”
Phase 1a also includes long-term care residents, and it’s not yet clear when Minnesota, or EBCH will move to vaccinations for those in Phase 1b: essential frontline workers and adults age 75 and older.
“Unfortunately, we just don’t know when we will be allowed to move to Phase 1b,” said Banks.
Vaccinations begun at EBCH in late-December, with the hospital receiving allocations from the Northeast Healthcare Preparedness Coalition.
EBCH administered the first dose to its staff members who wanted the vaccine, as well as to emergency medical services workers from Ely, Babbitt, and Tower, and to other community healthcare workers eligible under the plan.
Earlier this week, EBCH began providing those in that group the second dose of the two-shot vaccination.
The Minnesota Department of Health has formed an advisory group to create plans to vaccinate the next group, Phase 1b.
Jodi Martin, marketing and communications team leader said this week that “Although no dates have been set, EBCH is in constant communication with MDH and ready to move into this next phase when advised by the state.”
While the amount of available vaccines is increasing, initial supplies are limited as production continues to catch up with and meet demands.
Martin said that EBCH will provide updates as soon as new information is available.
“EBCH officials reassure the public that they are working diligently to ensure the vaccine can be administered, as soon it is available, to everyone who wants to receive the COVID-19 vaccination,” said Martin.
According to the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, just under 147,000 Minnesota residents had received at least one dose of the vaccine as of Monday, although more than 383,000 doses had been shipped to medical providers.
That includes 8,055 people vaccinated in St. Louis County, or roughly four percent of the county’s population.
County response
St. Louis County Public Health also weighed in, reaching out to ensure no eligible individual in Phase 1a has been overlooked.
Those eligible to be vaccinated now include EMS certified personnel, as well as staff in urgent care facilities or dialysis centers. Additionally, residents and staff of skilled nursing facilities, long term care and assisted living facilities can receive the vaccination now. These groups are categorized by the state Health Department as Phase 1a Priority 1 or 2.
The county has also started collecting information for organizations that are categorized as Phase 1a Priority 3. This will allow for faster notification and scheduling when the next phase of vaccinations can begin. Organizations in this group include: adult foster care, ambulatory clinic, community residential setting, correctional setting, dental office, emergency shelter, funeral home, group home, home health care, intermediate care facility, mental/behavioral health setting, pharmacy, public health clinic, residential care facility. Other EMS personnel not already included in Priority 1, and school nurses also fall within this category. Phase 1a Priority 3 vaccinations are for staff at organizations in these categories who are unable to telework.
While some of these organizations may already have vaccination arrangements with a hospital or pharmacy, St. Louis County Public Health is one of three health systems administering COVID-19 vaccines.
Any employer whose staff qualifies for vaccines during the Priority 1a phase who has not already been contacted by St. Louis County Public Health or one of these other systems is encouraged to register online at stlouiscountymn.gov/vaccineregistration.
“We are working through these priority groups as quickly as we can and want to ensure that no one is inadvertently overlooked,” said Amy Westbrook, St. Louis County Public Health Division Director. “We know a lot of people are interested in being vaccinated. Unfortunately, we don’t yet know how soon we will have sufficient vaccine supply to move to the 1b group or beyond, so we have not started a registration process or waiting list for anyone other than those in Priority 1a categories.”