In Northern Michigan, hospitals and health departments urged residents to continue following public health guidelines, noting that vaccine distribution will take some time.
Nick Torney is a Munson Healthcare Infectious Disease Pharmacist. He says for both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, people will have to receive two separate doses.
“The FDA really does have a rigorous process for improving vaccines for safety. None of those processes were limited in the process of identifying a safe vaccine for COVID-19,” he says.
Munson Healthcare is expected to receive its first dose of the vaccine this week and will administer it to frontline health care workers starting on Friday.
Jeannine Taylor represents District Health Department Number 10. She says they expect to receive the Moderna vaccine next week, pending FDA approval, although it’s not clear how many doses.
“We are receiving the Moderna vaccine as our first shipment. We do anticipate getting that shipment late December, more specifically later next week,” she says.
Wendy Hirschenberger is with the Grand Traverse County Health Department.
“While this vaccine offers hope, we have to keep in mind that the vaccine distribution will take a significant amount of time; anywhere from six months to a year and it will be a phased rollout of the vaccine,” she says.
The general public is not expected to begin receiving the vaccine until the spring.
