While health officials continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines, they are alerting the public about  how and where to get vaccinated. 

Dallas County Health Department Public Information Officer Ann Cochran says that the Iowa Department of Public Health states there are no residency requirements for getting a vaccination in Iowa. 

“We are focusing on the big picture. The goal is to get herd immunity in the United States. So someone who lives on the border of their county is welcome to use a vaccine site nearby that happens to be in another county.”

Cochran notes this won’t cause an issue with the allocation for COVID-19 vaccines within the county and that there are reasons for why there are no proof of residence restrictions when it comes to receiving a vaccine. 

“If there was a rule that people had to show proof of where they lived to get a vaccine,  individuals who have recently moved and haven’t yet changed their ID would have complications getting vaccinated and lots of people running around out there with no vaccination puts the rest of us at risk.”

Cochran adds that it could also cause issues for the elderly population who might not have a valid identification of where they live. Cochran says the ultimate goal is to not prevent people from receiving a vaccination that want one.