As news agencies spread the announcement that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine may be ready for public administration soon, Pfizer and government health officials are still working out how that vaccine will be distributed.
Theoretically, millions of persons could be vaccinated by the end of the year — but who gets the vaccine first is just one question still being answered. Even before that, though, Pfizer still needs to know in advance how many doses they need to have ready, and where those doses will be going for distribution. Plus, employees who will be giving the shots need training, and auxiliary supplies such as syringes need stocking before the first dose is given.
Another conundrum is the fact that Pfizer’s vaccine must be stored at an unusually cold temperature — minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit — until just before it’s used. And, most importantly of all, as The New York Times notes, “millions of Americans must be persuaded to get the shots in the first place.”
SOURCE: The New York Times November 12, 2020