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Vaccination

Iowa Congresswomen Urge HHS and CDC to Prioritize Rural Vaccine Distribution

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Congresswomen representing Iowa, including Cindy Axne (IA-03), Ashley Hinson (IA-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), and Randy Feenstra (IA-04), have written a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urging them to prioritize the distribution of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in rural areas. The congresswomen highlight the unique challenges rural communities face in accessing health care, including lack of cold storage, limited health professionals, and increased transportation needs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 1.1 million Iowans live in rural areas, which is over a third of the state's population.
  • A recent study showed that one in four Americans in rural areas reported having trouble accessing health care.
  • The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which only requires one dose and can be stored using regular refrigeration, is well-suited for rural areas.
  • The vaccine's simplicity in distribution and administration can ease logistical headaches for rural residents.
  • Prioritizing the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to rural areas will ensure equitable vaccine access for rural Americans.
  • The congresswomen recommend that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine be used in addition to allocations of vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, rather than supplanting them.
  • The vaccine's efficacy rate is 66% effective at preventing moderate disease and 85% effective at preventing severe disease.
  • The congresswomen highlight the importance of addressing health care workforce shortages and facility closures in rural America.

Statistics:

  • 35% of Iowans live in rural areas, which is over 1.12 million people.
  • 1 in 4 Americans in rural areas reported having trouble accessing health care.
  • 69 of Iowa's 99 counties have no intensive care unit (ICU) beds.
  • 25% of rural residents report a recent experience where they needed care but were unable to access it.
  • 23% of rural residents report that health care locations were too far away or too hard to get to.
  • The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 95.0% effective and the Moderna vaccine is 94.1% effective against symptomatic COVID-19.
  • The Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be stored for up to three months at refrigerator temperatures.

Sources:

  • United States House of Representatives -- Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03)
  • Letter to Acting Secretary Cochran and Director Walensky
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Brown University School of Public Health

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