CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Police agencies are part of the first tier of the current vaccination phase in Iowa.
Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner said his department has not yet begun vaccinating employees, and also said less than half are interested in getting it.
Gardner said he does not necessarily consider that percentage to be low, but an average compared to other law enforcement or corrections workers. Still, he is inferior to what he expected.
Gardner said they surveyed staff to see who would be prepared and willing to receive a vaccine and also provided information from state and county public health departments about the vaccine. He said they will not require employees to get the vaccine, but he hopes that as they get more information about the distribution, more employees will come to get vaccinated.
Not sure why less than 50% of employees surveyed want to receive the shot.
“I think at least for me and my family it seems to be right. There could be legitimate reasons why some of our professionals do not receive the vaccine. And on the contrary, I know that some of my employees have already received the vaccine. They were able to get it somewhere else instead of going through the channels here in the Sheriff’s office, ”Gardner said.“ I encourage anyone who wants to get it. I provided them with so much information in fact that they would take a informed decision “.
Gardner said prison nursing staff are pre-approved to distribute the vaccine, but since the vaccine awaiting public health requires very cold storage, they will not be able to store it at home or in prison. Therefore, they will be vaccinated in local hospitals.
Once, and if they receive a vaccine that can be stored at home, prison nursing staff can distribute shots to inmates and correctional facility staff.
Gardner said he believes it is important for staff to get the vaccine, as it will be the fastest way to get back to normal.
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