APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – As a third COVID-19 vaccine has been approved and begins to ship out to clinics across the country, local vaccination clinics are preparing to add another versatile tool to their arsenal.
“Very excited to add another vaccine into the two that we’re currently using. The more vaccine you have, the more people you can vaccinate. We feel very comfortable vaccinating 1,000 people a day,” said Appleton Health Officer Kurt Eggebrecht. “We could move a lot more people through if that vaccine becomes available…we’re planning for additional clinics, more days of the week, additional numbers per day, based on the availability of that vaccine.”
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved and began shipping out this week. Eggebrecht says the new option is a game changer.
“It doesn’t require the deep freezing that the Pfizer vaccine does, so therefore it’s a little more user friendly in terms of the storage and transportation of the vaccine. It also only requires one dose,” Eggebrecht told the WTAQ Morning News with Matt and Earl. “It will be less complicated to book second appointments and have people return when you have a vaccine that’s just takes one dose to be effective. So we’re really excited and looking forward to the opportunity to use that vaccine.”
For those looking to receive a vaccine, Eggebrecht adds that you can’t choose which one you want. At least, not yet.
“We don’t get the pre select which vaccine we order. We can only request the number of vaccines that we feel safe that we can administer in a week’s time, and we don’t know what arrives until Saturday before the following week,” Eggebrecht explained.
It’s unclear exactly when the Fox Cities vaccination clinic can expect to receive their first shipment of the new vaccine.
Over half of people 65 and older in Wisconsin have been vaccinated. Phase 1B of vaccinations, which includes educators and others, began on Monday.
Comments