When will the average American be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine? – WCNC.com

The first doses of the vaccine are only available to healthcare workers and may not be widely available until spring of 2021.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. People are officially getting the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination after the first shipments were delivered to hospitals across the United States Monday.

But right now, its just available for healthcare workers and nursing home residents. The average, healthy American will have to wait a little longer.

So how much longer will it be until the general U.S. population gets the shot? The answer really depends on who you ask.

Alex Azar, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, says by late February and early March it will be as easy as getting the flu shot, with stores like Walmart and Walgreens giving the vaccine to the general population.

This is, of course, after members of the high-risk population get their vaccination.

Azars timeline is slightly different than Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, who says most people will have to wait until April before they get treated.

Dr. Fauci says that would mean approaching herd immunity by next fall.

Dr. Fauci is hopeful thats when we can start easing off some of the public safety measures, like face masks and social distancing. But health experts do estimate close to 70% of the American population will have to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity and that could take quite some time.

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When will the average American be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine? - WCNC.com