HUNTSVILLE, Ala — Over just the past couple of days, there has been a lot development in terms of coronavirus vaccines and potentially distributing them across the country.
But, how, and when, would this all happen? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave an update on Tuesday.
Our team breaks down the plans.
We’re hearing promising news from companies like Pfizer, Moderna about their coronavirus vaccine trial results. This could mean, soon, a COVID-19 vaccine could be widely available to the public. For now, things are up to the FDA- and a decision will be made soon.
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Chief Scientific Advisor of Operation Warp Speed, says, “The Pfizer vaccine, as Mr. Secretary said on December 10... Moderna vaccine--more or less a week later.”
If the FDA and its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) approve Pfizer’s request for emergency use authorization, things could get moving quickly and most vulnerable people are at the top of the list.
Alex M. Azar II, Secretary of Health and Human Services, says during the press conference, “We hope to distribute vaccine to all 64 jurisdictions within 24 hours of FDA authorization... One of the private sector partners we’ve enlisted, CVS Health says they hope to vaccinate residents of nursing homes, one of the top-priority groups within 48 hours of FDA authorization.”
Alabama is expected to receive around 112,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines initially. State officials will have to determine who receives those doses. General Gustave F. Perna, the Chief Operating Officer of Operation Warp Speed says, “We are able to distribute vaccine to any location in any jurisdiction that has been enrolled as a provider.”
This, as long as each location meets the minimum required doses of the vaccine. General Perna explains, “975 doses by Pfizer, 100 doses by Moderna.”
From then, the plan is to send out more vaccines regularly. General Perna adds, “Then we’ll be on a steady drumbeat of sending allocations to the jurisdictions every week.”
Pfizer has been doing ‘dry runs’ to prepare for distribution. General Perna says, "They run through the actual process of registering the product through a jurisdiction. Then, they deliver th product. Then, they walk the administration sites through the actual opening and how to manage the product out of the container.”
The vaccines have very specific storage instructions and must be handled with care. General Perna says, “Pfizer vaccine has has to be -80 degrees at ‘ultracold storage… Pfizer has created a container which is augmented with dry ice that maintains the vaccine at the appropriate level.” He adds, "Moderna is a different case, they’re at -20 degrees… It has greater stability in that it can go into refrigeration for up to 30 days.”
The federal government will set aside a stockpile of vaccines just in case anything goes wrong. General Perna adds, “Once we are confident that the jurisdictions are confident, then we will release the safety stock to ensure maximum use in the country.”
You could state to feel like there’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel. I spoke with an expert earlier, who says it’s important for us all to stay vigilant.
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So, please keep wearing your masks. Tuesday, officials urged you to consider participating in trials for even more COVID vaccines. If you’ve recovered from COVID in the past 3 months, please donate blood so your plasma can be used to save a life.