The best Christmas present of 2020 is on its way to O'Brien and Clay counties.

The first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are headed to northwest Iowa, according to a statement Monday from Sanford Health. The shipment is expected late this week at some of Sanford's rural locations, with first vaccinations prioritized for frontline health care workers and long-term care residents as determined by the CDC.

Community Memorial Health Center Administrator Dr. Janette Simon said she's been told by O'Brien County Public Health to expect the first shipment sometime during the week of Dec. 21. CMHC has been designated as a priority home, Simon explained, since only one CMHC resident has antibodies for COVID-19 infection.

"The staff considers being one of the first as thanks enough for their hard work following the strict protocols," she said.

All residents in the nursing home have consented to receive the vaccine, with just four declining. CMHC has developed a staff vaccination plan so that a third of the staff will be vaccinated at the same time as the residents, with two other inoculations planned within weeks of each other.

"That way, if in the unlikely event staff have side effects, we will still have our residents cared for," Simon explained.

Simon reported that 75 percent of CMHC's staff have signed up to receive the vaccine so far.

"We are so excited to see the light at the end of this long tunnel," she said. "We are excited to get our lives back to normal and swing open our doors once again."

According to the state's rollout plan, allocations of the vaccine will increase in the months ahead.

"We've been participating in weekly webinars with the Iowa Department of Public Health regarding vaccine distribution since late August and a great deal of planning has been advanced," said Colette Rossiter, Clay County Public Health coordinator. "As the anticipation of a vaccine release nears, we're getting new information almost daily. We've secured supplies and cold storage to support the vaccination process."

The CDC expects the vaccine will be available for anyone who wishes to be immunized sometime in 2021. Rossiter said that as supply increases and priority groups are immunized, the vaccine will also be offered to the public. Plans are also in place for off-site community clinics.

Local health care officials hope the public accepts the vaccine with open arms so life can get on the road to normalcy.

"I've had people ask me about my confidence in the vaccine, and I have reassured them that even though this is a new vaccine, it gets all the attention, testing and reporting that any new drugs gets," said Dr. David Keith, medical director for the Clay County Board of Health and family practitioner with Avera Medical Group Spencer. "This is so important, since it's addressing a new disease and has been developed quickly."

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Clay County Public Health Coordinator Colette Rossiter stands in front of the large capacity, ultra-cold freezer on loan from Spencer Ag Center. The unit will be used to store Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, which needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius. Spencer Ag Center happened to have a large capacity freezer equipped with the technology to provide the sub-zero storage, and generously offered it on loan to help the community.

Keith said he respects healthy skepticism surrounding the vaccine, but noted there's little to worry about. He urged community members to take the vaccine and said he plans on getting inoculated "as soon as it is available."

"I've closely followed the development process, the technology and the expert opinions. Though the process was expedited, shortcuts weren't taken," he said. "I'm looking forward to being able to offer the vaccine to help prevent infections. I've cared for patients ill with COVID-19 and I've had patients die from COVID-19. Getting vaccination is the answer that will allow us to save our community and nation."