*Breaking News on Covid-19 Vaccines

By Nichole Richardson

I was just on a WebEx meeting hosted by Lisa Cox, communications director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, along with DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams regarding the current Covid stats, info, and vaccine timelines.

I will quickly list some of the most pertinent information and/or highlights:

• Missouri currently ranks #20 in terms of Covid cases; meaning there are 30 states worse off than ours. The eight states that border us are all showing greater numbers than ours and according to Dr. Willams, this is the first time since May that MO has been better off than those other eight. He attributes this to “a change in people’s behavior” and because individual counties are notified of their stats.

• After Thanksgiving there is roughly a five day incubation period for the virus, so it is expected that we will know if there is a surge or not by this weekend or early next week.

• Dr. Williams will be going to the White House on Tuesday to meet with the President and says this is mostly due to “Missouri being recognized as a leader” for its pandemic precautions.

• ***** There has now been a COMMITMENT of 339, 775 vaccine doses to MO for the initial vaccine schedule beginning somewhere between Dec. 12-15. Operation Warp Speed will WITHHOLD THE SAME AMOUNT to ensure the second round of it get administered to the same patients. This means that roughly 340,000 people will be scheduled to receive the drug by the end of the year 2020. (*With the caveat that is the commitment if/when FDA approves EUA for Pfizer and Moderna.)

• Phase 1A vaccines (the initial phase) will be provided by Pfizer and Moderna, and shipped DIRECTLY to where they will be administered. Sites have 10 days to administer ALL of their provided doses. 1300 long-term care facilities will be getting them and Walgreens and CVS employees will be going to the facilities to distribute. Phase 1A also includes: “All healthcare personnel and staff who have potential for direct or indirect exposure to COVID-19 and are unable to work from home.” This even included the clergy etc. who come to the hospitals. There is no priority as to which staff get the shots first. The state is leaving this up to the hospitals/facilities themselves. **At this time, hospitals are not requiring their staff to get the vaccination.

• Pfizer’s vaccine must be kept at 94 degrees below 0, and distributed every 21 days, whereas Moderna’s vaccine must be kept at only four degrees below 0, and distributed every 28 days.

• In week one (around Dec. 12-15), Pfizer will release 51,675 vaccines. During week two (around Dec. 21), Pfizer will release 63,000 and Moderna will release 105,000 vaccines. Moderna’s vaccines will go mostly to more rural hospitals and areas. The two will never be mixed-meaning the place will always receive the same TYPE of vaccine. Week three, Pfizer will release 110,000 and Moderna will release 46,000 vaccines.

• Phase 1B is estimated to include roughly three million people and includes essential workers and high-risk workers and is anticipated to begin around Feb. 1. It is set on a regional model, which gets two percent of the vaccine to disperse geographically. Those people “will not be stratified” and should be able to just go to their doctors etc, so long as they belong to this group.

• The “average” person should be able to get a vaccine around May 1. This is the expected mass vaccination goal date. According to Senator Blunt and Dr. Williams, July and August should see everyone and anyone able to get a vaccine easily. There is $63 million dollars appointed to local health departments etc. Dr. Williams said “Senator Blunt is a champion and you won’t find a better friend of public health.”

• The CDC has always “passively monitored” a drug’s side effects but now will be using an actual software for “active monitoring,” which will show real-time information regarding those effects.

• Children and pregnant women are not allowed to get a vaccine yet but Pfizer just opened a study for children over the age of 12 and it will be awhile for more information on this.

• In summary, Dr. Williams and Senator Blunt cannot stress enough the importance of wearing a mask, social distancing, washing hands often, and using sanitizers. “Be purposeful about your congregating.” They believe all four preventions together make a holistic approach.

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