The first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine could arrive in Idaho as early as Tuesday. But it could be months before inoculations are widely available.The Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the Pfizer vaccine this weekend. Shortly thereafter, Idaho will receive more than 13,000 doses. That’s according to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen, who joined Governor Brad Little on an AARP virtual townhall Tuesday.
Jeppesen said health care workers plus residents and staff of long-term care facilities will be first in line for vaccines.
“You’ll probably notice that 13,000 doses is less than the number of health care workers we have in the state and certainly less than the number of long term care residents and the wonderful staff that work with them,” he said.
In addition, Jeppesen said Idaho could start receiving a separate shipment of a vaccine from the company Moderna that is also expected to be approved soon.
Even so, Idahoans who are not health care or other essential workers or high-risk groups, will likely have to wait until spring to get vaccinated.
Find reporter Heath Druzin on Twitter @HDruzin
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