Governor provides update to COVID-19 vaccine
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Officials provide the latest update on the COVID-19 vaccine and Nebraska.
Tomorrow, FDA is reviewing Pfizer’s application for emergency use authorization tomorrow. If it is approved, shipments will be sent to Nebraska, likely sometime next week.
Phase one of Nebraska’s distribution process has now been broken into three parts: Phase One A, Phase One B, and Phase One C.
Phase One A focuses on healthcare and long-term care facilities. Phase One B will be first responders and those in the education sector. Phase C is food and agriculture, corrections, gas, utilities, and transportation workers.
The first shipment will include about 15,600 doses. The doses will be given to eight hospitals to be distributed.
However, the government says there will be a delay on the second and third-week shipments but it is unclear why.
In addition to Pfizer, the FDA will also be looking at granted emergency use authorization to Moderna’s vaccine on Dec. 17.
In order to move forward with Nebraska’s distribution plan, it needs to be approved by the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices. This committee will meet on Dec. 11 and Dec. 13 to vote on vaccination guidance.
The state will also be activating the long-term care federal pharmacy program. It will allow long-term care facilities to align with a pharmacy, which will complete the institution’s vaccinations. Currently, there are over 400 long-term care facilities utilizing this program.
Long-term care facilities that do not select a pharmacy to partner with will work with a local health department to receive their vaccinations.
Governor Pete Ricketts is going live to update the community on the COVID-19 pandemic in Nebraska.
