The first shipment of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine arrived in Washington State on Monday, December 14, 2020. The state health department (WSDOH) said 62,400 doses are expected this week, which will be distributed to 17 sites in 13 counties.
These so-called Phase 1a innoculations will be administered to “high-risk workers in health care settings, high-risk first responders, and patients and staff of long-term care facilities” (more details here). WSDOH estimates 500,000 Washington residents could fall under these categories.
WSDOH expects a total of 222,000 Pfizer doses by the end of December, and says “regular weekly shipments should begin in January.” If Moderna’s vaccine gets FDA approval, another 183,400 doses could come from that source by the end of December. WSDOH projects that Washington will be allocated an additional 1/2 to 1 million doses in the second month of vaccine distribution (i.e., January 2021).
The vaccine requires 2 shots administered 21 days apart and needs 7 days after the second shot to become fully effective.