North Dakota plans to distribute Pfizer vaccine December 14

A national committee will make recommendations on who should be the first to receive the vaccine 24 hours after FDA approval.

If there is no setback, Pfizer can begin vaccine distribution by December 14.

While North Dakota was one of four U.S. states to participate in the vaccine planning pilot program, the state may not have access to the vaccine until states that did not participate.

“Well, I think we benefited from being a pilot planning site because it really kicked off our COVID vaccination planning much earlier, potentially in other states,” said Molly Howell, program manager. vaccination from the North Dakota Department of Health.

NDDOH says it has a long list of organizations that will be the first to receive the vaccine once it becomes available.

“It’s anyone from local public health to private clinics to hospitals, even long-term care and pharmacies,” Howell said.

Howell says people could see massive availability by spring 2021 after groups such as healthcare workers, first responders and long-term care facilities receive the vaccine.