State launches expanded COVID vaccine distribution data

The state has begun publishing additional data about coronavirus vaccine providers, as Gov. Brad Little promised last month.

The state Monday launched the COVID-19 vaccine administration transparency data, which is available on Idaho’s official coronavirus website. The data outlines vaccine doses distributed and administered by Idaho’s public health districts and vaccine providers.

Little called for the new data in a Jan. 28 executive order.

“There are questions about whether the vaccine is being administered quickly enough after it arrives in communities across Idaho,” Little said at the time. “Quite frankly, we need a clearer picture.”

The new data allows the public to have a better idea of where vaccine doses are allocated and whether the shots are making it into arms. For instance, data current as of Sunday shows that Central District Health has administered 84 percent of its 85,465 allocated doses. Meanwhile, Public Health North Central Idaho District has administered 63 percent of its 14,450 allocated doses.

The public can also use the site to look up supply and administration data for providers large and small, such as Saint Alphonsus facilities within Central District Health (98 percent of doses administered), to Mountain View Hospital (54 percent of doses administered), to Grand Peaks Medical in Rexburg, which administered 100 percent of its 10 allocated doses.

Little and state health officials discussed the expanded data and the overall vaccine rollout during a news conference Tuesday.

“Our goal is a fair, safe, rapid and transparent administration of the vaccine,” Little said.

Teachers and school staff serving pre-K through grade 12 were already cleared to receive the vaccine last month. Starting last week, Idaho moved on to the next phase, prioritizing vaccines for seniors 65 and older.

Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen said 265,000 Idaho seniors are in the current priority vaccination phase. About 21 percent of those 65 and older have now had a first dose, including older seniors who live in a longterm care facility and were cleared for shots earlier.

The state gets about 25,000 new, first doses of vaccine each week.

“That means it will take several months for us to get completely through this group,” said Jeppesen, asking for patience from the public.

Little and state officials said Idahoans will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine free of charge at many of the same places they would obtain a seasonal flu shot, including a doctor’s office, medical clinic, pharmacy, hospital or, in some cases, public health district office.

More detailed information about vaccine providers is available on the coronavirus website.

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Clark Corbin

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