Late Friday, the Food and Drug Administration gave approval to America’s first coronavirus vaccine.
The FDA’s emergency use authorization could trigger nearly 3 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine getting shipped within 24 hours and delivered within 48-96 hours. Another 3 million doses could be shipped soon.
Kansas expects deliveries by early next week and has said there could be as many as 150,000 doses available shortly after vaccine arrival. The initial plan is to send the vaccines to ultra-cold storage locations, of which Newman Regional Health has one. Hospital administrators anticipate Newman Regional Health will be among the first facilities to get the vaccine. The state is not releasing locations due to security purposes.
With Pfizer gaining emergency use authorization, Moderna’s vaccine is up next for potential approval before the end of the month. Both companies have announced effectiveness rates of 94-95 percent.
