Category: Covid-19 Vaccine

Health care workers will get COVID-19 vaccine first in Miss., but not all will be required to take it  WLBT

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Health care workers will get COVID-19 vaccine first in Miss., but not all will be required to take it - WLBT

Gov. DeWine says 98,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine coming to Ohio, more information to come Friday  Cleveland 19 News

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Gov. DeWine says 98,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine coming to Ohio, more information to come Friday - Cleveland 19 News

Well be working to immunize long-term care facility residents/workers and health care workers, as determined by state governments, Brown said. With our nationwide presence, extensive vaccine experience and trusted community pharmacists, we are confident that we can help accelerate availability of COVID-19 vaccines nationwide.

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Lake County Health Department preparing for COVID-19 vaccinations to start this month - Chicago Tribune

Thermo King once kept food fresh for troops during World War II. Now, it will rise to the challenge to refrigerate COVID-19 vaccines.

Shortly before World War II, Minnesota-based U.S. Thermo Control Company introduced the revolutionary concept of transport refrigeration to the world, allowing trucks to haul frozen foods and perishables to every corner of the United States.

The company, co-founded by renowned inventor Frederick McKinley Jones and businessman Joseph Numero, helped store items at controlled temperatures as they crossed through mountain blizzards and desert heat, according to a May 1950 article in the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.During the war, these refrigeration units kept food fresh on island bases and dropped into steaming jungle with parachute troops.

Eight decades later, U.S. Thermo Control Company still exists under the name Thermo King, and proudly claims Bloomington, Minnesota, as the site of its headquarters.

And just as the companys refrigeration products helped the United States defeat the Axis powers, Thermo King will help the country distribute COVID-19 vaccines over the next several months, to hopefully conquer a pandemic that has claimed more than 270,000 American lives.

We take pride in being a part of this, being the company that invented this space in terms of refrigeration, Vice President of Sales Dwayne Cowan said, and now being part of this solution that will safeguard people.

Thermo King, a subsidiary of Trane Technologies, will protect the livelihood of the various COVID-19 vaccines through a process known as the cold chain. As federal and state governments coordinate the rollout in late 2020 and early 2021, the companys products will keep doses at ice-cold temperatures as they travel to destinations by air, rail or truck.

The Thermo King SuperFreezer, for example, can store goods at temperatures as low as -70 degrees Celsius. Remarkably, the product was originally designed to ship sashimi-grade tuna.

That number minus-70 is important, because its the same temperature that Pfizer needs to store its vaccine. Moderna, the other company applying for FDA authorization in the U.S., requires a temperature of -20 degrees Celsius for its own vaccine.

Vaccines have to stay at a specific temperature, so that they maintain their strength and potency, and are still good when they go into someones arm, said Julie Swann, a distinguished professor at North Carolina State University and a supply chain expert who advised the CDCs response to swine flu. Public health systems will be partnering with private industry on various solutions in the cold chain, everything from specialty freezers to dry ice, to perhaps mobile fans. These partnerships are really helpful to making sure the vaccine gets to where it needs to go, and stays at the appropriate temperature.

According to Swann, the variation in temperatures for storage may play a role in vaccine distribution. With more specialty freezers available in densely-population areas (particularly those with research universities nearby), the Pfizer vaccine and its -70 degree Celsius requirement might skew toward cities. The Moderna vaccine, on the other hand, may be more appropriate for rural areas because it doesnt need to stay quite as cold.

If both vaccines have good safety and efficacy, that may be okay, Swann said. If there are differences, then we may be worried about inequities across the system.

The cold chain is not a new concept for companies like Thermo King, but the COVID-19 vaccine may present unprecedented challenges.

Cowan, the Vice President of Sales, called the benchmark of -70 degrees Celsius "unordinary".

When you start seeing the different temperatures required to haul, and the amount 12 billion to 15 billion vaccines across the world that will need to be transported, Cowan said, we knew we would have to play a role in supporting.

Its a role the original founders would applaud especially Frederick McKinley Jones, known to history as the King of Cool.

Transport refrigeration was started in Minneapolis in 1938. Frederick McKinley Jones has the patent, an African-American in Minnesota, homegrown, Cowan said. Were very proud of our start in creating the industry in Minnesota, and now what were doing to support the transportation of this vaccine.

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Minnesota-based company will protect COVID-19 vaccines on supply chain - KARE11.com

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday the state's initial 109,000-dose COVID-19 vaccine allotment will actually go to that many residents instead of half that amount as originally planned.

"In contrast to something that I said yesterday, we will not need to divide the number of doses that we receive in two, holding back half of them to give as the second dose for each person," Pritzker said Wednesday. "We don't have to hold back because of the speed at which we will be receiving vaccines."

The news came as the state reported 238 more deaths from the respiratory disease Monday, along with 9,757 new cases.

Wednesday's death figures are the most the state has reported in a single day. The spike is due to underreporting from county agencies during the four-day Thanksgiving holiday, Illinois Department of Public Health officials said.

In all, 60 of the state's 102 counties reported COVID-19 deaths Wednesday.

That brings the state's death toll to 12,639 since the outbreak began. There have been a total of 748,603 residents infected during the pandemic.

Pritzker said the state expects to receive the first batch of vaccine vials from Pfizer sometime between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19. The vaccine requires two injections given 21 to 28 days apart to be effective.

Hospital employees, along with residents and workers at congregate care facilities, will be first in line for the vaccines, he said.

"The recommendation, which came yesterday, is to include in the same category the congregate care facility, long-term care facility, residents and the workers there, with health care workers in hospitals, so they'll get it simultaneously as the doses come in," he added.

Earlier in the day, national and state leaders in the long-term care industry urged governors throughout the country to prioritize nursing home residents and staff in the vaccination process, as those individuals have borne the brunt of the disease's effects.

In Illinois, nearly 48% of the state's deaths have been residents of long-term, congregate care facilities.

"Given the asymptomatic and presymptomatic spread of this virus, combined with the explosion of community spread across the U.S., we are extremely hopeful this vaccine will literally be a lifesaver for thousands of residents and expedite the reopening of our facilities to family members and loved ones," said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. "The long-term care industry, including nursing homes and assisted living communities, now call on governors from all 50 states to ensure long-term care residents and staff are the first group to receive the vaccine within this initial phase."

The Pfizer vaccine is fairly temperamental and requires special storage requirements of nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. The vaccine will be directly delivered to providers in special containers with 975 vials, with each vial containing five doses. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vials will be thawed and diluted with an inert substance to reduce the viscosity of the vaccine before being injected into a patient.

The new vaccine details come as the state's infection rate climbed for the second consecutive day. With the new cases added Wednesday, the state's seven-day average infection rate stands at 10.6%.

Meanwhile, hospitals throughout the state reported treating 5,764 COVID-19 patients Tuesday, down 71 patients from Monday. However, health officials believe the decline in patients is a temporary one.

Pritzker announced Monday that no region of the state would have mitigation restrictions reduced for several weeks out of fear of another resurgence due to many who ignored warnings about Thanksgiving travel and gatherings.

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Pritzker: Illinois' first COVID-19 vaccine allotment will stretch further than expected - Chicago Daily Herald

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC)- With two vaccine candidates now seeking federal approval, health officials say distribution in Virginia could start by the middle of December.

On Monday, Moderna became the second vaccine maker to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for regulatory clearance after a clinical trail found their immunization was 94 percent effective at preventing COVID-19. Pfizer was the first to request an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

If either candidate is approved, it would give them the greenlight to ramp up production for a widespread vaccination campaign.

The Virginia Department of Health said 70,000 doses are expected initiallya share that is based on the states population size rather than relative need. State Epidemiologist Dr. Lilian Peake told lawmakers in a virtual briefing on Monday that Virginia will get less than 3 percent of the first batch because of this federal criteria.

Peake said the state is still waiting for a CDC advisory group to release recommendations on who should be prioritized first. She said healthcare workers are likely to be at the top of the list, followed by residents at long-term care facilities and others with high-risk health conditions.

Early on, there likely wouldnt be enough for all healthcare workers so that will need to be broken down into subgroups and were still working with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) to determine that, Peake said. The level to which its broken down is going to depend on how much vaccine we have and we dont know that yet.

Right now, Peake said officials are focused on getting those first doses out fast by pre-positioning some ahead of FDA approval. She said the state has identified 16 facilities and health systems that can store the Pfizer vaccine in ultra-cold conditionssomething Modernas immunization doesnt require.

During Mondays hearing, multiple members of the House Health Welfare and Institutions Committee questioned Peake about the possibility of a vaccine mandate.

My understanding is that is not something that is being considered at this time, Peake responded.

Peake was also asked about a possible requirement for public schools. She said this has yet to be deliberated because the vaccines that are currently up for approval still havent been studied in children. She said thats typical for this stage of development.

Those studies still have to be done before the vaccine would be recommendation for children so thats one reason why we havent started that planning yet around school vaccinations, Peake said.

In an interview with 8News on Monday, Gov. Ralph Northam tried to reassure Virginians whore concerned about possible side effects.

One of the issues that we know is going to be present as we move forward is trust, Northam said. We want to make sure we work with local leaders, our faith leaders and talk about how this vaccination is safe and effective.

Peake said its too soon to say when herd immunity could be reached in the commonwealth but ramping up vaccine production is expected to take several months.

Northam hopes the general public will have the opportunity to be vaccinated by the summer of 2021.

My message to Virginians is that there is hope for all of us, there is light at the end of the tunnel but there is still going to be a couple of months where we will have to remain vigilant and follow the guidelines, Northam said.

Northam announced $22 million in federal CARES Act funding to support mass vaccination planning through 2020 but its still unclear how the state will fund the rest of whats expected to be a $120 million effort overall.

In an email to 8News, Virginia Department of Health Public Relations Coordinator Tammie Smith said theyre expecting Congress to allocate additional funding in its next relief package but Virginia is prepared to use state resources if all else fails.

In the special session, the General Assembly passed a revised budget that directs the Virginia Department of Health to make a plan for the equitable distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine once one becomes available. The first report on that plans progress is due to the General Assembly on Tuesday.

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Heres when COVID-19 vaccine distribution could start in Virginia - WAVY.com

Debbie Swanson told Grand Forks County Commission members that biotech company Pfizer is awaiting emergency approval of its vaccine, and rival drug-maker Modernas vaccine is not far behind. Vaccinations will roll out in waves, with the first including health care providers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities.

The two vaccines, which Swanson said are about 95% effective, need to be kept in an ultracold environment, which poses certain challenges, but she expects vaccinations will occur within the timeframe that it can be refrigerated.

I think communication is just going to be the key that we know who everybody is, and we can contact them as the vaccine comes to us and we have priority groups that are ready to receive it, Swanson told the commission at its Dec. 1 meeting.

The North Dakota COVID vaccine ethics group will be meeting later in the week to discuss what groups will be included in Phase 2. Swanson said those groups likely will be essential workers, including teachers, law enforcement and firefighters, among others

On a cautious note, Swanson informed the commission there are mild side-effects of the vaccine, including having a sore arm and feeling sick. Health care institutions may need to spread out the vaccine among their workers to avoid having large numbers of similar employees calling in sick the next day.

Cases of coronavirus in the county have been trending down, according to Michael Dulitz, who is doing data analysis for the health department. The percentage of positive tests has fallen to 7.6%, a level not seen since early October.

Also, the doubling effect the time it takes for the number of cases to double has increased to 65 days, which Dulitz said is a positive move. In early November, data indicated there could be as many as 38,000 cases by January, as cases were expected to double every month or so.

I think we can safely say that we are on a downward trajectory right now, Dulitz said.

Dulitz said he doesn't know if a mask mandate is the reason for the decline in positive cases, and that it will take more time to tell. However, he said, wearing masks has caused declines in other states.

Still, while positive cases are slowing, the death rate is not, especially for those over 80. There have been 47 deaths in the county due to the illness, and 15 people have died in the last 17 days. People who were exposed earlier in the pandemic can receive treatment in the hospital for long periods of time before dying.

In other commission news from Tuesday's meeting:

Emergency Manager Kari Goelz reported she found a storage unit for stores of personal protective equipment and other supplies. Those supplies were previously stored in a city-owned building, but needed to be moved because of a renovation project. Goelz said she planted the seed of having the city pay for half, if not all, of the costs incurred to move the supplies.

The county will work with ICON Architectural Group to create a request for proposal, in preparation to solicit public bids for remodeling and COVID mitigation work at the County Office Building, as well as at the States Attorneys Office. Combined, the repairs nearly reach the $200,000 threshold requiring public bids. The repairs will be paid for with federal CARES Act funding given to the county.

Commissioners also selected Cynthia Pic to chair the board for the 2021 session, with Tom Falck being elected vice-chair.

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For some in Grand Forks County, COVID-19 vaccine could begin to roll out in mid-December - Grand Forks Herald

As the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago prepare to receive the first doses of approved coronavirus vaccines in the coming days and weeks, public health officials say there are still no plans in place to mandate that residents receive the treatment.

Dr. Allison Arwady, director of the Chicago Department of Public Health, says that she does not anticipate that the vaccine will be required for city residents.

We would not anticipate vaccine mandates in any setting, she said. I think time will tell as more vaccine becomes available on what decisions that have to be made in that regard.

Arwady also said that she hopes that those healthcare workers and other first responders who will be first in line for the vaccine will take advantage of that availability.

Im very hopeful that well see healthcare workers and others who get that early availability, and then essential workers, really taking advantage of the opportunity to protect themselves and their community. But this will be a choice that people will have, particularly early on, she said.

State officials have said throughout the pandemic that a hypothetical vaccine for the virus would not be required by law. The first doses of vaccine could be delivered to city and state health officials within the coming weeks, and officials at all levels are still working out details on which individuals will be the first to receive the treatment when it becomes available.

At the state level, healthcare workers will likely be the first to receive the vaccine, with residents and staff in congregant settings, including assisted living facilities and nursing homes, likely next on the list if the state gets enough doses in the first wave of vaccines.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says that the state is not planning to mandate that residents receive the vaccine, but echoed Arwadys hopes that those individuals within groups that will receive the treatment first will elect to do so.

There arent any mandates in place, he said. Its certainly something that is always under discussion. What I know is that were going to be focusing on those populations that are most vulnerable, and also the people who treat the most vulnerable, and not just healthcare workers, but others who may work with the most vulnerable.

Even without a mandate for a vaccine, health officials are encouraging as many residents as possible seek out and receive the injections. Individuals who have been immunized against the virus could still potentially spread it, meaning that in order for the vaccine to be effective, a majority of state residents will need to receive it.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, has previously said that in order to achieve proper herd immunity in the state, up to 80% or more of the population will need to receive the vaccine.

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Arwady, Pritzker Don't Anticipate COVID-19 Vaccine Will be Mandated by Officials - NBC Chicago

There is still a lot of work to get the vaccines from the manufacturers to our healthcare providers, like hospitals and health departments, and then ultimately to each of us, Cooper said. We are a big state though, with rural areas that stretch for hundreds of miles. Every person is important and we will work hard to overcome the challenges that our geography presents.

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COVID-19 vaccine to be free as N.C. health officials prepare for distribution - WBTV

The best thing you can do if you have the opportunity to get immunized is to get immunized, its the same reason that were asking people to mask up, said Hylton Gravatt. Its not just to protect you from contracting the virus, but also to protect from potentially infecting others.

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Reassuring the skeptics: VCU infectious disease expert weighs in on COVID-19 vaccine - WWBT NBC12 News