Initial 70K Doses Of Pfizer's Vaccine Expected In Virginia
VIRGINIA — As Pfizer and Moderna seek emergency use authorizations for their COVID-19 vaccines, Virginia is preparing for initial limited distributions once approvals are given.
Gov. Ralph Northam said in a Wednesday news conference in Richmond that an estimated 70,000 doses would be in the first wave of Pfizer vaccines sent to Virginia. Should the FDA give approval to Pfizer's vaccine, doses would go to states immediately, which Northam expected would happen as early as mid-December.
Pfizer was the first vaccine maker to apply for the emergency use authorization from the FDA, and Moderna applied this week. For both vaccine candidates, large-scale tests with thousands of volunteers had 95 percent effectiveness, Northam said.
"Both Pfizer and Moderna require two doses, spaced about three weeks apart. Pfizer will ship the second doses in time for those 70,000 people to receive them," said Northam. "While this happens, Moderna and likely other vaccine makers will be going through the same FDA process, so we'll start seeing more vaccine doses being allocated to Virginia. The companies are manufacturing these doses now as we speak, even before final approval so that distribution can move quickly once that approval comes."
The governor said Virginia will be following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention policy for distribution of vaccines to priority groups. On Tuesday, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to make the first priority group health care workers and long-term care facility residents.
"Health care workers take care of the rest of us, and nursing home residents are some of our most vulnerable people," Northam said.
According to State Epidemiologist Dr. Lilian Peake, the state is still working on the estimated number for those two groups. Right now, the estimated people in those groups in Virginia are 500,000. By the end of the week, Peake expects Virginia will have a process to determine dividing those groups into smaller groups to account for the limited first wave of doses.
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has not yet voted on phases of vaccinations beyond health care workers and long-term care facility residents. The next two phases could prioritize essential workers, people with chronic health conditions and individuals 65 or older. The Virginia Department of Health has been preparing for months on vaccine distribution plans, working with hospitals, long term care facilities and community providers.
Dr. Daniel Carey, Virginia's secretary of Health and Human Resources, estimated that the initial phases will likely top 1 million of Virginia's 8.5 million population.
"If you go through those high risk groups before you get to the general population, you will have gotten to a number above a million," said Carey. "It's significant numbers of folks who are simply over 65, and then those who have chronic conditions, and essential workers and infrastructure, it's millions of folks. It will be a ways before we get to the general public."
Northam is hopeful that everyone in Virginia can be vaccinated by late spring or early summer, depending on supply. The governor and his family plan to get vaccinated once it is their turn, and he encouraged other Virginians to do the same. But he said that residents will need to continue wearing masks in public, washing hands, staying away from crowds and large groups, and trying to socialize outside when possible.
"The vaccine news is extremely, extremely hopeful. It is the light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel," said the governor. "It is the only way we can solve this health crisis and the resulting economic crisis and get back to a normal way of life. If you want your kids back in school, our small businesses to reopen and thrive and to go to concerts and entertainment events again, there is only one way to get there. Wear a mask and social distance now, and get a vaccine when the time comes."
The governor also emphasized that the vaccine will be safe and will not give individuals COVID-19. The vaccination will not have a live virus, but rather spur the body to produce antibodies to the disease. He is confident that no corners have been cut and FDA review will show that.
"We have every reason to believe that these vaccinations are safe. Remember that this is a global pandemic, and the best science available worldwide has gone into developing and researching these vaccines," Northam said. "Thousands of scientists, governments and research labs have worked around the clock all year to bring these vaccines into reality."
Update on the numbers and restrictions
Northam did not announce any new restrictions in his Wednesday news conference. On Nov. 15, he implemented several restrictions, including a 25-person gathering limit, ban on alcohol sales after 10 p.m., and ramped-up enforcement of state guidelines at essential businesses. The governor said it takes two to three weeks of data to determine the impacts of the new restrictions. Officials are also monitoring the possibility of a Thanksgiving surge and whether further mitigation measures will be necessary.
"Health directors tell us that schools and workplaces are largely doing well to follow the requirements, but that the virus is spreading when people gather with friends or coworkers after work or school," Northam said. "They're also seeing the virus spread in family gatherings. In the Mount Rogers Health District, for example, entire families are already in quarantine after a Thanksgiving exposure."
On Wednesday, 2,417 new coronavirus cases were reported by the VDH, making the seven-day average of daily cases 2,311. That is down from a peak average of 2,592 on Nov. 29.
New cases by region include 760 in the northern region (677.6 seven-day average), 517 in the southwest region (496.7 seven-day average), 387 in the northwest region (434 seven-day average), 384 in the eastern region (387.9 seven-day average), and 369 in the central region (315.3 seven-day average).
"Our Covid cases continue to rise and almost every region of the state is seeing sustained community spread," the governor said.
Northam said that despite the recent case increases, Virginia is still better off than other states. Citing a New York Times graphic, he said Virginia's seven-day daily average of 28 new cases per 100,000 is lower than 45 states.
"I appreciate the vast majority of Virginians who understand we are all in this together and who make sacrifices to help keep themselves and others safe. I especially appreciate the health care workers and ICU nurses across this commonwealth who truly are wearing themselves to the bone to take care of sick people so please think of them."
But he expressed concern about surrounding states: North Carolina with a seven-day daily average of 34 cases per 100,000, West Virginia with 54 cases per 100,000, Kentucky with 66 cases per 100,000, and Tennessee with 69 cases per 100,000. In rural communities, he said people may travel between states for some activities.
"Tennessee's lack of a mask requirement and other restrictions has increased the spread of the virus in neighboring Virginia communities," he said.
Ballad Health, the health system serving southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee, announced on Wednesday plans to temporarily stop elective surgeries. Northam had implemented a statewide ban on elective surgeries early in the pandemic, but those procedures were allowed to resume on May 1.
Statewide, there are 1,860 current COVID-19 patients, the highest total so far. Of these, 188 patients are on ventilators, and 427 are in the intensive care units. Hospitalizations by region include 514 in the northern region, 398 in the southwest region, 337 in the eastern region, 308 in the central region, and 303 in the northwest region.
Areas of southwest Virginia have also reported short supplies of personal protective equipment, but Northam said the state has been in touch to help. Facilities with PPE concerns are encouraged to contact their local health departments or emergency management departments to get help from the state. Northam said Virginia has the PPE and will continue to get more. According to VDH data, no Virginia hospitals have reported difficulty obtaining PPE since Sept. 18.
The seven-day positive average of tests in Virginia is 8.3 percent as of Nov. 28. Regional averages are 12.2 percent in the southwest region, 8.1 percent in the northern region, 7.8 percent in the eastern region, 7.5 in the northwest region, and 6.6 percent in the central region. Statewide, the seven-day average of daily PCR tests reported is 23,478.
Northam noted that all hospitals have surge plans. Ventilator use among all hospital patients in Virginia is at 28 percent, while ICU occupancy is at 77 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. The 2019 average for ICU occupancy was 67 percent. When including 890 ICU surge beds, statewide ICU occupancy is at 52 percent.
"Right now that capacity exists, but let's not put that to the test," he said.
There were 20 new coronavirus deaths reported by VDH on Wednesday, and the seven-day average of daily death reports is 15. The cumulative totals of deaths is 4,113, while there have been 242,480 cases and 14,833 hospitalizations to date.
Below are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Tuesday to Wednesday:
Alexandria: 5,447 cases, 370 hospitalziations, 77 deaths; increase of 43 cases and three hospitalizations
Arlington County: 6,417 cases, 593 hosptializations, 157 deaths; increase of 83 cases and four hospitalizations
Fairfax County: 31,661 cases, 2,580 hospitalizations, 624 deaths; increase of 374 cases and 21 hospitalizations
Fairfax City: 212 cases, 18 hospitalizations, nine deaths; no changes
Falls Church: 109 cases, 15 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of three cases and one hospitalizations
Loudoun County: 10,302 cases, 566 hospitalizations, 144 deaths; increase of 70 cases and five hospitalizations
Manassas: 2,331 cases, 139 hospitalizations, 28 deaths; increase of eight cases
Manassas Park: 734 cases, 62 hospitalziations, eight deaths; incrase of seven cases and one hospitalization
Prince William County: 18,662 cases, 1,094 hospitalizations, 235 deaths; increase of 172 cases and five hospitalizations
Fredericksburg: 711 cases, 57 hospitalizations, six deaths; increase of three cases
Spotsylvania County: 3,218 cases, 181 hospitalziations, 58 deaths; increase of 33 cases
Stafford County: 3,366 cases, 198 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of 36 cases and one hospitalization
This article originally appeared on the Falls Church Patch
