We know you are frustrated

When Gov. Brad Little and I answered questions last Tuesday at the AARP Telephone Town-hall, we heard numerous Idahoans express their frustration at being unable to make a vaccine appointment because of overwhelmed phone lines and websites at the local public health districts and enrolled provider organizations.

The biggest issue, as we all are aware, is that the supply of the COVID-19 vaccine is not meeting the demand in Idaho and across the country. The allotment from our federal partners doesn’t meet the needs of Americans at this time. That is a frustration we, and many other states, are feeling. We are working with our federal partners, and we are hopeful this will change over time.

So I want to let you know that I hear you. I understand your frustration. Under Gov. Brad Little’s direction, DHW teams are working on a vaccine pre-registration solution. It will save you time and worry. When it is available, we will let you know through all available channels. Your ability to get a vaccine – should you choose to do so – is our top priority.

FAQ updated weekly

At the Department of Health and Welfare, we are always committed to transparency, but especially during the global pandemic. We want to share information so Idahoans can make informed decisions when it comes to protecting themselves, their families, and their communities.

We get numerous questions every day through various channels (emails, social media, and phone calls). We answer the questions directly when we can, and if we get the same question, we share it through our FAQ on the DHW website. If you have questions about COVID-19 or the vaccine, this web page is a great resource for you.

Here are a few of the questions we have received recently:

• Where can I find vaccine-related data in Idaho?
  • There are three data dashboards on the coronavirus website.
  • Launched on Feb. 8, Idaho’s COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Transparency Data dashboard shows the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses that individual providers and local public health districts have been allocated and the number of doses that remain for them to administer.
  • The COVID-19 Vaccine Data Dashboard shows data on how many people have received COVID-19 vaccinations by county and public health district, cumulative doses administered, trend data, and more.
  • The COVID-19 Case, Laboratory, and Hospital Data Dashboard includes data on COVID-19 cases statewide, by public health district, and by county. It also includes data on COVID-19-related deaths, hospitalizations, laboratory testing, and more.

• Is Idaho going to open large-scale vaccination sites?
  • These events are intended for high-volume vaccine administration over a condensed period of time, but they must be by appointment rather than first-come, first-served because of the physical distancing and observation needs for these vaccines. They’re currently happening across the state at the local level in a variety of ways. Some health districts are working with partners to host events in places such as fairgrounds or conference facilities. We’ve also seen private providers host these events at hospitals, for example.
  • The state could potentially be engaged in this type of event in the future, but we haven’t made any decisions yet due to limitations of vaccine supply. For the latest and contact information for providers and health districts, visit https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/covid-19-vaccination.

• What is in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines?
  • The ingredients in currently available COVID-19 vaccines include mRNA, lipids, salts, sugars, and buffers. Buffers help maintain the stability of the pH solution. See a list of ingredients: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html

Have a safe and healthy weekend, and remember to: Wear your mask, keep six feet of distance between yourself and others, wash your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes, and get your vaccine when it’s your turn!