PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia will receive about 100,000 fewer doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this month than originally planned under the federal Operation Warp Speed initiative.
The Virginia Department of Health says it was informed late Thursday that Virginia, along with other states, would get fewer doses in the second week of rollout.
There’s been little explanation as to why states will receive fewer doses, but Pfizer said Thursday it wasn’t facing production issues.
“We have millions more doses sitting in our warehouse but, as of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses,” a statement from the company read.
Virginia was expected to receive 480,000 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna in December, but is now set to receive 370,650 doses. The Pfizer vaccine has already been given to health care workers in the state, including the first doses at Norfolk General Hospital on Tuesday, and the Moderna vaccine is expected to go out soon. An FDA panel endorsed the Moderna vaccine on Thursday, and approval could come as soon as Friday. Virginia has already placed an order for 146,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
The first shipment of Pfizer vaccines (72,125 doses) went to 18 hospitals in Virginia this week. After health care workers, long-term care center residents are set to be next in line.
“The distribution of this vaccine is very exciting. It’s, as you know, the first time now that we have something that can genuinely protect us from COVID-19,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver.
Oliver tells 10 On Your Side other essential workers and people with medically vulnerable conditions will follow.
“Those that are keeping the lights on, keeping us fed, driving the buses and so on,” he said. “Those over age 65, people with underlying chronic medical conditions.”
We’re told the state’s vaccine advisory work group will help determine exactly who should be included in future waves.
“We will vet that list with our vaccine advisory work group which is composed of medical scientists, leaders from those communities, faith leaders and others, ethicists to ask them to take a look at that list and ensure that it is fair and equitable,” Oliver said.
Oliver said while a vaccine is now available, the virus is still rampant so Virginians need to remain vigilant.
“We have more cases everyday now than we did back in April and May. We need to protect ourselves by continuing to wear a mask, watch our distance and wash our hands to help stop the spread.
The general public will likely be able to get the vaccine in mid to late summer.
This week, Northam proposed hundreds of millions of dollars to help with the commonwealth’s pandemic response, including $90 for Virginia’s vaccination campaign.