Millions More COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Are On The Way, U.S. Officials Say

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Respiratory care specialist Denise A. Beretta gets her COVID-19 vaccine Monday at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I.

Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

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Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

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Discussing how the plan would adapt to include the Moderna vaccine, Perna said it would mirror this week’s rollout of the Pfizer medicine.

«We’re going to ship just a little bit short of 6 million doses to the American people, and we’re shipping it to 3,285 locations across the country, he said.

Pending the Moderna vaccine’s successful authorization, Azar said, «we have enough vaccines already purchased to ensure we can meet our goal of vaccinating every American who wants it by the end of the second quarter of 2021.

The first doses of the vaccine are being administered as many states are reporting record high hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. «But today, we have hope on the way, Azar said.

While saying the vaccine is «extraordinarily effective at protecting people from the virus, Azar added that Americans must continue to follow safety measures, from washing their hands and maintaining physical distance to wearing a face covering.

«Our war against the virus is not over yet, but this week we’re taking a major step toward our eventual victory, Azar said.

In response to a question about possible hiccups in the delivery system, Perna said potential hurdles range from the technical – such as the chance for errors in entering destination data into the system – to the meteorological. Stormy winter weather is predicted to hit parts of the U.S. later this week, he noted.

Despite requiring subzero temperatures during storage, Azar said, the Pfizer vaccine is stable enough to reach rural areas without its efficacy being compromised. He noted that it comes packed in dry ice and is «five days stable before the dry ice needs to be refreshed.

Things could become much easier if the Moderna vaccine wins regulators’ authorization. It needs only a regular freezer to be stored, for instance, and it’s available in smaller package sizes than Pfizer’s standard of nearly 1,000 doses, making it more flexible for transport and delivery.

On another logistical question, Azar said that people who want to get the vaccine will not have to pay for it.

«Operation Warp Speed is taking care of the cost of the vaccines themselves, the ancillary supplies like needles and syringes, and the cost of distributing the vaccines to jurisdictions, he said, «while health care payers are handling administration costs. So, no American faces an out-of-pocket expense for this vaccine.