Harrisburg (KDKA) – Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said the coronavirus vaccine may be available within the next month, although it will not be an “immediate cure or end” to the epidemic.
D If. “If the federal approval process stays on track – we’re still waiting to see if we can get the vaccine next month,” Levine told a news conference Thursday afternoon.
“However, we do not know how fast the supply of vaccines will meet the demand. Again it is important to remember that when a vaccine is available, it will not cure – certainly not an immediate cure or end – for a coronavirus epidemic. “
Dr. Lev. Levine says that after Pfizer and Moderna have completed three-phase tests with their vaccines, the FDA will have to complete a review to allow emergency use.
“There have been concerns in the past about the politicization of this process. D very. “I am very comfortable that the process has not been politicized, it has been done by science,” Levine said.
He says there are “significant logistical challenges” for people to distribute and administer vaccines.
She is expecting at least two vaccines, she points to Moderna and Pfizer, then says there are four more in the pipeline. He says two doses are needed for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, and the Pfizer vaccine has to be kept at -80 degrees Celsius.
“We will be able to distribute the Moderna vaccine widely because it can only be kept in the refrigerator,” Levine said.
He says the state’s vaccination plan, which you can read here, seeks to address these rational barriers.
“Our plan takes all of this into account, and we are ready to distribute and administer the vaccines. We are working very closely with the CDP and other federal officials and other states to speed up the operation, but we do not need more funding, ”he said.
Dr. Lev. Levine says there will be three phases of distribution and administration. The first to get it would be the “critical population” – people like healthcare workers, those 65 years of age or older and residents of gathering care settings.
Once there are a large number of doses available, the critical population has not yet been vaccinated and the general population will be vaccinated. Once there is an adequate supply of doses, the entire population will be vaccinated.
“We are for a very challenging time, which is why we are talking about control and mitigation and emphasizing how things are. We expect, again, that we will turn this into winter and then spring and summer. Getting everyone vaccinated in Pennsylvania can take a significant amount of time. I hope we wear masks in 2021, maybe – by the end of 2021 – “he said.
He goes on to say, “We need to meet this challenge, and the Governor and I are confident that the people of Pennsylvania are strong and resilient and will meet this challenge and succeed.
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