The demand for COVID-19 vaccines continues to fall, and the county is thinking outside the box on ways to get the shots in arms.

Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said the county will offer a vaccine clinic at the Marshalltown Speedway on May 14.

“We are finding different ways to get the vaccine out,” she said. “The state asked us to think outside the box, something different than the big vaccine clinics at health care providers.”

Not only will Moderna vaccines be at the race track, but Thompson is scheduling some clinics at the Cartwright Farmers Market in a couple weeks.

“We are looking at places where people are going,” she said. “We need to make them available for people.”

Thompson turned down a shipment of 500 Moderna vaccinations this week due to the decreased demand.

“A lot of people have gotten vaccinated, or have made up their minds to not get it,” she said.

However, she did accept 100 Johnson & Johnson vaccinations.

“I took all of those,” Thompson said. “Some people want one shot. I was asked this week by seven people if they could get the Johnson & Johnson.”

Primarily, Marshall County residents have been calling the public health nurse about the availability of Johnson & Johnson this week and Thompson is doing her best to meet the desires and needs of those people.

She still encourages people to practice COVID-19 pandemic precautions — wear a mask, social distancing, wash hands and stay home if sick.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health COVID-19 website, there have been 5,173 cases of the virus within Marshall County, and 75 deaths.

The website also reports 4,527 people in Marshall County have initiated the first shot of a two-dose series, 10,716 residents have completed the vaccine series and 2,168 opted for the single dose Johnson & Johnson.

“People can call me if they want the Johnson & Johnson,” Thompson said. “Call 211 and they have my number.”

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