There, the Webster County Health Department hosted a vaccination clinic for residents 65 and older. It was the first mass offering of the Moderna vaccine to the general public within the county. Previously, on Jan. 29, some of the county’s teachers were vaccinated in large groups.

“A lot of people are bringing their parents or grandparents,” said Kelli Bloomquist, public information officer, in advance of the Saturday vaccinations.

The clinic was held just one day after Gov. Kim Reynolds loosened restrictions on mask requirements.

Reynolds issued a proclamation Friday that removes a mask requirement for those spending 15 minutes or more in an indoor area within 6 feet of people not in their household. She also ended mask requirements for those in state buildings and some businesses, such as barber shops.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Two rows of patients occupy one wing of Crossroads Mall on Saturday as they await their first round of COVID-19 vaccinations. Webster County Public Health provided the vaccines on Saturday for residents 65 and older.

The governor’s new order also ends limits on the number of customers in a business or a requirement that they stay socially distant. The new rules took effect Sunday.

In terms of the vaccinations in Webster County, the 700 available appointments for Saturday filled up in just 45 minutes on Tuesday.

Those who made an appointment entered through the west doors of the mostly empty mall.

Public Health utilized three different wings of the mall and separated each patient by 6 feet.

Richard Higgins, 83, of Fort Dodge, was one of them. He was happy to be receiving the shot.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Patients are dropped off at the west entrance of Crossroads Mall on Saturday to receive their first round of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

“It’s great,” he said. “At my age, it’s great I am able to get it. Just fortunate to get in here. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

He did have a question for Julie Howell, the Webster County Public Health nurse who administered the shot.

“Does it hurt?” Higgins asked.

Howell said her arm hurt seven hours after she got her first COVID vaccination.

Before Higgins could get the shot, he had to unbutton his shirt so Howell could inject the needle into the upper part of his arm.

After administering the vaccine, Higgins could be seen wincing some.

“I felt that one,” he said.

“You said we weren’t going to feel it,” Higgins said with a laugh.

Higgins will have to receive one more shot to be fully vaccinated. He’ll get that one on March 6.

Overall, Higgins was pleased with the process.

“It went pretty fast,” he said. “My appointment was at 11 and I’m done at 11:15 — that’s pretty good.”

Lawrence Hansch, 96, of Fort Dodge, was waiting his turn.

“I’m looking forward to getting it,” he said. “At my age, I’ve gone through a lot of shots.”

Hansch is thankful for his good health, although he admitted he’s always had a heart problem.

“I tried to join the military when I was younger,” he said. “I have a bad heart. I still have a pacemaker.”

Patients who received a shot were asked to stay seated for about 15 minutes, just to make sure they didn’t experience any side effects.

Vaccinations were offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bloomquist reported that Webster County is supposed to receive 600 vaccinations per week through the rest of February.

“Until we receive notice that’s what is being shipped to us, we are not going to set any clinic plans in motion but those vaccinations will be used for those who are 65 and older,” Bloomquist said. “But we also have teachers, first responders and day care workers that need vaccinated, so that’s what those 600 a week will go for.”

According to the state’s coronavirus website, almost 4,000 vaccine doses have been administered in Webster County. About 87,000 individuals in the state have completed the full vaccination — meaning they received two doses.

And while Webster County’s 14-day positivity rate hovers around 5%, Bloomquist said the virus remains a serious concern.

“We are still seeing people diagnosed with COVID on a daily basis,” she said. “We are thankful the numbers are not what they were in October or November but we also know people are being more diligent. We are thankful for that, but we are definitely not out of the woods yet.”