APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -The Trump administration has released a playbook on COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
A claim the president says will be made available by the end of the year.
But yet again medical professionals are questioning the legitimacy of that claim, and some medical leaders say handing out a vaccine is not the first concern.
“The first thing we need to do is reduce the spread of the virus,” said ThedaCare President and CEO Dr. Imran Andrabi.
But if Wisconsin’s positive test rate keeps climbing…
“We are not going to have enough vaccines, from everything that I know so far, to be able to scale out and give the vaccine to everybody that needs it,” he explained.
He’s not the only medical professional who has doubts of the President’s announcement to make a vaccine available before the new year.
“I’m not going to comment on the President but I am going to comment as the CDC Director that face masks are the most important public health tool we have,” said Centers for Disease Control adn Prevention Robert Redfield. ” I will continue to advocate for all Americans to embrace these coverings. we have clear scientific evidence they work and they are our best defense,” he went on. “I might even go so far to say this face masks is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine because the immunincity may be 70% and if I don’t get an immune response this face mask will.”
It all comes after the Trump administration announced a vaccine distribution playbook, and even that plan acknowledges there could be a limited supply of vaccines to start with.
It’s why it’s hard for medical leaders to answer questions about logistics like storage and distribution.
“Once we have that information we will know ‘do we have enough?’ and then, ‘how do we distribute them,'” said Andrabi.
The playbook identifies prioritized groups who will be the first in line for the vaccine.
It includes healthcare workers, people with an increased health risk, and other essential workers.
That is phase one of a three phase distribution plan.
The playbook notes the potential for limited supply of the vaccine is intentional, “with the goal of maximizing vaccine acceptance and public health protection while minimizing waste and inefficiency.”
Phase two expects the demand of the vaccine will be met with its supply. The plan says it will effort making access to the vaccine equitable. It also notes making the vaccine available at public clinics, federal health centers and pharmacies to increase access.
Phase three of the COVID-19 vaccination program acknowledges a chance of having more of the vaccine available than demand requires. The plan reiterates efforts to increase access and decrease possible waste of the vaccine.
Loose guidelines for communication between federal, state and local governments is also a part of the plan.
It points to state level officials to monitor local activities, and ensure the execution of the vaccine program.
On tribal communities, the plan notes the following…
Although CDC is working directly with the Indian Health Service (IHS) at the federal level, plans have not been finalized. It is important that jurisdictions include tribal leaders and tribal organizations in their planning efforts. While IHS may provide vaccination services to the populations they serve, plans are currently in development regarding vaccine distribution to tribal health facilities, including urban facilities, that are not officially connected to IHS. Those facilities may need to work through their jurisdiction to receive vaccine. It is also critical that jurisdictions reach out to any non-federally recognized tribes in their area to ensure they have access to vaccination services, since these groups will likely not be served by IHS.
Past governmental operation the administration’s lays out scenarios detailing vaccine dosage and administration, as well as harder numbers pertaining to vaccine availability.
Scenario 1: FDA has authorized vaccine A for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in 2020
- ~2 million (M) doses by the end of October, 10M–20M doses by the end of November, and 20M–30M doses by the end of December (2020)
Vaccine storage details
- Ultra-cold (-70 C) storage requirements, for large sites only
- if thawed but NOT reconstituted (2–8 C) must use within 5 days (discard unused doses after 5 days)
- if reconstituted (room temperature) must use within 6 hours (discard any unused, reconstituted vaccine after 6 hours)
- 2-dose series (21 days between doses)
- Administer by intramuscular (IM) injection
Scenario 2: FDA has authorized vaccine B for EUA in 2020
- ~1M doses by end of October, ~10M doses by end of November, and ~15M doses by end of December (2020)
Vaccine storage details
- if frozen, must be frozen at -20 C
- if refrigerated (2–8 C) must use within 14 days
- if room temperature must use within 6 hours with direction to “discard any unused vaccine after 6 hours”
- 2-dose series (28 days between doses)
- Administer by IM injection
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