HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive soon, but it won't be available to the public right away.
"We're all very excited about the vaccine, we're all very thankful that we have a vaccine available and that we're going to be able to get access to it so quickly. However, I don't think that it's going to have a considerable impact on what we're seeing currently, UAB Chief of Hospital Medicine Dr. Kierstin Kennedy said. "We have a limited number of doses, and per the CDC guidelines, those doses are initially being given to healthcare providers, right, cause you need those people to be healthy and able to function if someone gets sick."
Dr. Kennedy said that even once the vaccine is here, it will still take time to distribute throughout communities.
"I think it will still be several months probably before we have enough doses to have at widespread all throughout the community, where the spread is happening. So, while we're excited, we're glad to have it, we also recognize that is not the magic bullet. It's not going to solve all of our capacity issues and our spread issues right now," Dr. Kennedy said.
So, what can people do while waiting for the vaccine?
"When COVID-19 spreads the most is before you know you're sick. And so, for me personally, because I take care of COVID patients, I literally everyday function as though I have it and I just don't know it yet. And I think if everyone starts to operate in that way, that's how we'll slow the spread," Dr. Kennedy said.
The main concern about the vaccine is the time that some people think it was developed too quickly.
"Everything we are doing at this point is experimental. You know, when you come into the hospital, you know, we are throwing everything that we can at patients just to try to make them better with only months worth of data to help guide us. The vaccines are probably better off than some of our treatments because the technology and the science behind the development of the vaccine has actually come from work that they've done for years," Dr. Kennedy said.
And for those that doubt the vaccine, consider turning your doubts into research.
"I would encourage people to really get the facts, to you know, acknowledge that they have doubts, acknowledge the reasons why they have doubts and feel validated and that it's okay for them to have those doubts. But don't allow the doubt to keep you from getting the facts. Read about it, talk to your doctor about it and go forward, and make a decision from there. But don't stop at the doubt and never learn more about how the vaccine could potentially help you and your family," Dr. Kennedy said.
With an increase in COVID-19 patients, there is a decrease in space to keep everyone.
"I don't think any of us has lived during a time where we've had to worry that if we got really sick, and not just like, you know, I feel a little bad, my throat hurts a little bit, but if you truly sick, feeling like you could not breathe, that if you came to a hospital people would not be able to rush you back and take care of you immediately. And what we are saying is we are reaching that point," Dr. Kennedy said.