contributed photo Marshall County received 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines this week.

This week, Marshall County received 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, as opposed to the normal 500. However, 1,000 doses will not become the new normal.

Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said counties across the state have started to turn down vaccine shipments. She was asked at the last minute on Thursday if Marshall County could use some more.

“It was not expected,” Thompson said.

That was not including the 2,100 vaccinations received last week. Marshall County received the regular shipment of 500 doses and then was sent another 1,600, which was distributed among health care providers. Of those 1,600, 1,400 were sent to UnityPoint — Marshalltown.

One expectation Thompson likes to have in place is ensuring each dose would be administered into a waiting arm. Having an extra 500 shots presents an interesting challenge.

“We are working on manufacturing companies, have finished special needs and educators,” she said. “Where do we go next? How do we use this all?”

Thompson is confident they will be used, although there are indications the demand for the vaccine has reduced.

“Now, we have openings in the clinics,” she said. “Before, all of the appointments would be gone within 15 minutes. We have been vaccinating like crazy.”

UnityPoint, McFarland, Primary Health Care and Hy-Vee are not the only locations providing vaccinations. On Thursday,

NuCara announced some openings available in their vaccine clinics.

On Friday, NuCara will host a clinic at the McFarland Southside Clinic, 303 Nicholas Drive. Appointments can be made at nucara.com/coronavirus. Since there is a limited supply available, priority will be given to patients older than 65.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health COVID-19 website, there have been 5,127 cases of the virus within Marshall County, and 74 deaths.

The website also reports

4,977 people have initiated the first shot of a two-dose series, 7,879 residents have completed the vaccine series and 2,126 opted for the single dose Johnson & Johnson, which has been pulled due to reports of blood clots.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.