(WWJ) Oakland County is taking the final steps to get ready for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine which is expected to arrive next week in a limited quantity.
The Oakland County Health Division has received and installed 10 medical grade freezers which are equipped to handle the -70 degrees Celsius the vaccine is required to be stored at.
The 10 freezers cost about $400,000 combined, paid for by federal CARES Act funding. They can be as cold as -86 degrees Celsius.
They are a whopping 723 lbs. each—so big a crew of four delivery men and an electrician was needed to move each one.
"We are anxious to get the vaccine to our first responders and health care workers as soon as they arrive,” Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said in the release. “We moved quickly to ensure we had the adequate storage capability to meet the needs of the county. As more vaccine arrives, we will move on to additional priority groups working hand in glove with our health experts."
Michigan health officials have announced a goal of vaccinating 70% of adults ages 18 or older by the end of 2021.
Distribution of the vaccine will be in a phased approach, officials said, with an emphasis on both ensuring the continuing functioning of the health care system and essential services in the community and protecting people at increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness.
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The phases are as follows:
Phase 1A includes paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home, as well as residents of long-term care facilities.
Phase 1B includes some workers in essential and critical industries, including workers with unique skill sets such as non-hospital or non-public health laboratories and mortuary services.
Phase 1C includes people at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness due to underlying medical conditions, and people 65 years and older.
Phase 2 is a mass vaccination campaign for all adults.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) estimates the vaccine will be available to anyone who is recommended to receive it by mid to late spring 2021.
Michigan residents seeking more information about the COVID-19 vaccine can visit Michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine. As additional information and resources become available, it will be posted to this site.
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