Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says the federal government is promising states a 16% increase in COVID-19 vaccine doses starting next week. Reynolds says federal officials promised governors in a call Tuesday that the federal government would increase state allocations to accelerate the national vaccination program. In Iowa that equates to an additional 6,300 doses. Gov. Reynolds also said at yesterday’s news conference she was informed a new Johnson and Johnson vaccine is expected to receive ’emergency use authorization’ from the FDA next month. This new vaccine is a single dose vaccine, which will simplify and speed up the vaccination process nationwide. The governor also responded to allegations that coronavirus testing done at the Iowa Select Farms administrative office in July was a political payback for campaign contributions.
Two first-term members of Congress from Iowa were named this week to serve on a key U.S. House committee…both Rep. Ashley Hinson of the first district and Rep. Randy Feenstra of the fourth district were named as members of the House Budget Committee. Hinson earlier had been selected for the appropriations committee, while Feenstra snared a seat on the agriculture committee. Both are Republicans.
Black Hawk County residents seem open to get the COVID-19 vaccine…the county public health department yesterday shared findings from a new survey, showing about 42.5% of people living in Black Hawk County said they will definitely get the vaccine when it becomes available, while another 21.0% said they likely will. Overall vaccine concerns centered around safety, with respondents showing more trust in general vaccines than the vaccine for COVID-19.
Due to this week’s winter storm, Cedar Falls officials remind residents of the 48-hour parking ordinance, which applies to all roads within the city limits year round. It prohibits a car from parking in a spot on any city street for more than 48 hours at a time. The reminder comes as plows and salt trucks will be removing excess snow from all public right-of-ways to ensure safe travel throughout the city…so beginning today at 2:30 p.m., police officers will ticket all cars that are violating the ordinance. If you do not move your car within 24 hours of receiving a citation, the car will be towed at your expense. The city is also asking residents to clear snow and ice from sidewalks; violators will be fined.
An Iowa House subcommittee approved proposed regulation of medication abortions, including requiring written consent from the patient, informing women of the possibility of reversing the procedure and requiring that the Department of Public Health make that information available. House File 53 defines a medication abortion as one induced by a drug, medicine mixture or preparation administered with the intent to terminate a pregnancy.
