As COVID vaccinations continue in Rock Island County, the health deparment is working on plans for residents to get a second dose.
Department Administrator Nita Ludwig says the initial recommendation for the Pfizer vaccine was to get the second shot 21 days later, and for Moderna, 28 days later.
"However the CDC has just come out and said that you really have 42 days after the first vaccination to get the second. And even if you don't get it in that amount of time which we are certainly striving to do for people, then it's just recommended to get it at your first opportunity after that."
She says in the future some of the Tuesday weekly vaccination clinics might be reserved for second doses, or may be a combination of people receiving their first and second doses.
Ludwig says there's another alternative for residents of Rock Island County - Hv-Vee is making appointments for vaccinations - at its stores in Milan, Moline, Rock Island, and Silvis.
Scott County is preparing to expand vaccinations beyond health care workers. Beginning next month Iowa will move to what's called phase 1-B that includes people 65 and older, teachers, and first responders.
Health Department Director Ed Rivers says details for those 65 and older will be released later this week, but plans for those in education, police, and fire will not be announced.
"People qualifying in this group will not need to reach out to our department to get an appointment. They will be connected to appointment scheduling through their employer."
Other residents of Scott County will have to be patient - River says his department is only receiving a limited number of doses each week and he won't know for a while when vaccinations might be available for them.
