This information was all from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) perspective, which is not ironclad as we've seen states deviating from their guidance all along, and more significantly recently with the release of the vaccines to states.
From the CDC's perspective, they want the distribution to be efficient, expeditious, and equitable. It was noted that there is flexibility at the state and local levels due to local epidemiology.
As far as the vaccines go, the Moderna vaccine is for those people aged 18 years and older. The second dose is to be administered at 28 days. The Pfizer vaccine is for people 16 years and older. The second dose is to be injected after 21 days. The vaccines are not interchangeable!
There is significant safety monitoring being done as the vaccinations progress.
There wasn't a huge amount of detail for the private sector during the hourlong briefing. The first priority group is called "essential workers" and includes first responders; teachers and staff; food and agricultural workers; manufacturing; postal workers; and grocery store workers, for a total of about 30 million people.
In the next priority tier there are about 57 million people that include transportation workers; food service; finance; information technology; energy; water and waste water; media; and legal.
A few other tidbits included:
- It is not clear as to the ability to transmit/shed virus after a vaccination. More studies are needed.
- The speaker said that the expectation is that anyone who wants to get a vaccination will be able to get one in June.
