Southeast District reports vaccine arrival
Health director credits collaboration between health department and healthcare partners
By News Channel NebraskaAUBURN – The Southeast District Health Department reports that the first doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine have arrived within the district.
The health department reports that it is working closely with healthcare partners and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to distribute vaccine across the district.
District Health Director Grant Brueggemann said the collaboration between health care organizations and the health department allow the district to be among a few rural regions to the receive the first rounds of Pfizer vaccine.
Vaccines today are focused on health care personnel.
Brueggemann said the vaccine is pivotal in reducing the impact of COVID-19 in the 19 communities in the district.
He told the Nebraska City Health Board Monday that he does not expect the vaccine to be available to the general public until the April time frame.
Dr. Dan DeFreece of CHI Health St. Mary's said the hospital has started vaccinations.
DeFreece: "It feels like there is a sense of hope and relief. Hopefully we can end the pandemic at some point."
He said vaccinations greatly augment disease control, but do not replace the need for hand washing, social distancing and other methods.
Wendy Snodgrass of the health board said she expects the state Department of Health and Human Services to have a COVID-19 vaccination dashboard up soon. The state expects 104,000 doses by month's end for health care and long-term care facilities.