First COVID-19 vaccinations given in the U.S. - will you take the vaccine?

By Lorelei Yang, Countable News

As 2020 comes to a close, hope is on the horizon in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

What's the story?

• Shortly after 9 a.m. EST on Monday, December 14, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was administered at Long Island Medical Center in Queens, New York.
• In total, there are about 2.9 million doses in Pfizer's first shipment. Most of the vaccines given today will go to high-risk healthcare workers, although vaccinations will also be available to residents and employees of long-term care facilities in the initial rollout.
• A national ceremonial "kickoff event" will take place in the afternoon at George Washington University Hospital on Monday, December 14. Five people will receive the vaccine in an event intended to demonstrate the way that many health workers will be vaccinated this week. The five vaccine recipients were chosen by an algorithm that GW Hospital is using to assign the first vaccine doses.
• On Sunday, December 13, nearly three million doses of the vaccine began their journeys to facilities in all 50 states. A total of 145 sites will receive the vaccine on Monday, followed by 425 on Tuesday, and 66 on Wednesday.

When can I get vaccinated?

• In the initial rollout, vaccinations will be available to at-risk healthcare workers and vulnerable residents of long-term care facilities.
• Over time, the criteria will be broadened to include other Americans with medical conditions that make them susceptible to complications from COVID-19.
• According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the average person without underlying conditions will get the vaccine by the end of March or beginning of April.
• Assuming that the vaccination campaign is efficient and effective, most people could be vaccinated by late spring or early summer 2021.

Are more vaccine doses on the way?

• In short, yes.
• Now that Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine has also been approved for emergency use, U.S. officials plan to ship just under six million doses this month.
• Between Pfizer and Moderna, there should be enough vaccine doses for 20 million people by the end of this year.

(Image Credit: iStockphoto.com / Geber86)