Central District Health received its first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine and began distributing it to area healthcare facilities.
CDH coordinates with healthcare providers and state public health officials to distribute the vaccine through its four counties — Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley Counties. The initial shipment included 4,875 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The doses were distributed among St. Luke's Health System, Saint Alphonsus Health System and Primary Health Medical Group.
“This is a very exciting step for our communities and our country as a whole. We want to remind people that these early shipments of vaccine will be limited, so our communities need to stay focused on the prevention measures such as wearing a mask, physical distancing, and avoiding gatherings. We expect the vaccine to be more readily available by spring of 2021 and are encouraged by the many inquires we are receiving each day from the public who are eager to get their vaccine,” said Russ Duke, District Director for CDH, in a statement.
The state's vaccine rollout plan puts healthcare workers at the top of the priority list before long-term care facility residents and staff.
CDH is also expecting around 9,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine. Because the Moderna vaccine does not require the same frigid storage as the Pfizer vaccine, CDH says a wider variety of healthcare providers can receive it.
The health district will continue to update information regarding when people can get the vaccine and where they will be available. When it becomes widely available, CDH says no government entities in Idaho are requiring people to get the coronavirus vaccine.
CDH encourages anyone seeking out further information on the vaccine and COVID-19 to find reputable science-focused and factual sources.
