The nation welcomed a Friday evening announcement from the FDA approving the first vaccine for the Coronavirus.
Pfizer began shipping supplies and the vaccines immediately to designated hospital centers throughout the country and Florida. The distribution is based on state population and Florida will initially receive 179,000 doses. They will be distributed by designated centers throughout the state.
This first vaccine from Pfizer requires two doses, spaced approximately 21 days apart. However, the first dose is effective and the second simply increases the effectiveness to approximately 95%. The complete analysis of this news can be read here in the New York Times.
Some specific information about our home state distribution:
“The governor said Florida will get 179,400 thousand doses of the new Pfizer vaccine. The first doses will go to health care workers in high risk/high contact environments. The first batch will be split up so that 97,500 vaccines go to Florida pilot hospitals like Tampa General Hospital.
“Our top priority is residents of long-term care facilities. They are at the greatest risk and this vaccine could have a positive impact, not just protecting them from Covid-19, but allowing them to return to a more normal life,” said DeSantis.
CVS and Walgreens will get 60,450 doses to help vaccinate people in those facilities. The other 21,450 will go to the Florida Department of Health, the Division of Emergency Management, and to Florida National Guard strike teams, which will also them get vaccinated.
“We hope to have more good news about additional doses of both the Pfizer and the newly approved Moderna vaccine next week and of course we’re looking forward to clinical trials concluding for Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines which is a one dose vaccine and doesn’t require any special storage,” said DeSantis.
Next in line to get the vaccine would be elderly residents and those suffering through multiple diseases or medical conditions who are more susceptible to the virus.
The governor says he will continue to have updates in the following days as we hear of more companies getting approval from the FDA for their vaccines. Read the article here.
First Care Clinic will continue to keep our patients advised of progress on the vaccines and other important coronavirus information.
We now offer on-site Rapid PCR Testing and results while you wait.
A reminder once again, do not neglect other medical issues. You can make an appointment for the same or next day by calling 239-260-5307