One day after the FDA authorized the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, 145 sites across the United States are now expected to receive the vaccine on Monday.
Being described as a “historic turning point” in the pandemic, the vaccine is expected to make strides in preventing the virus, which has already taken over 290,000 Americans.
A concern many citizens have is the potential lack of responsibility that may come with health professionals’ eagerness to distribute the vaccine. However, the chief operating officer of the federal government’s vaccine initiative Operation Warp Speed, assured the vaccine would be distributed safely.
“I am absolutely, 100 percent, confident that we are going to distribute safely, this precious commodity this vaccine needed to defeat the enemy, Covid,” Gen. Gustave Perna said.
According to The New York Times, the U.S. is the 6th country to authorize the vaccine.
145 doses of the vaccine, which for now is only for those 16 and older, is set to arrive at facilities on Monday. According to People, “425 sites are expected to receive the vaccine on Tuesday and the final 66 sites will receive it on Wednesday.”
People also reported that though the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses, the federal government will only be delivering half (2.9 million).
“For me, it’s a moral responsibility and obligation to make sure that the second dose is available for the American people,” Perna wrote. “We want to ensure the vaccine arrives safely and that it can be effectively administered once arrival occurs. It is so important that all vaccine that’s available is utilized as a shot in an arm and nothing is wasted.”
Under a deal Pfizer has with the U.S. government, by next March, 100 million doses are expected to be given out. “Under that agreement, the shots will be free to the public,” The Times reported.
