Four states selected for Pfizer pilot COVID-19 vaccine delivery program

[PeteS in CA]

Four states selected for Pfizer pilot COVID-19 vaccine delivery program

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/health/four-states-selected-pfizer-pilot-covid-19-vaccine-delivery-program

Pfizer Inc. has launched a pilot delivery program for its experimental COVID-19 vaccine in four U.S. states, after announcing last week that early data shows the two-shot vaccine is 90% effective.

"We are hopeful that results from this vaccine delivery pilot will serve as the model for other U.S. states and international governments, as they prepare to implement effective COVID-19 vaccine programs," Pfizer said in a statement on Monday.

The drug maker picked New Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Texas for the pilot program, after weighing the states' populations, racial diversity, immunization infrastructure and need to reach people in both urban and rural areas, Fox Business reported.

But Pfizer made clear that the states won't get doses of the vaccine earlier than other states.
...
One distribution dilemma for Pfizer is that the vaccine must be shipped and stored at -94°F, unlike another experimental vaccine that is also moving forward.

A new Moderna vaccine that the company said on Monday is nearly 95% effective does not have to be kept at sub-zero temperatures. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said 20 million doses will be available by the end of the year, Fox News reported.

The article doesn't say so explicitly, but I suspect this is a trial run with similar but inert substances with temperature monitoring and data collection to be sure that substance was kept in the proper temperature range during transit and storage. This kind of temperature control is doable, but it is a requirement more demanding than for Moderna's vaccine and (I believe I've read) AstraZeneca's.

[libertybele]

Ok .... who wants to go first??   Not me.  Nope, I don't want this year's flu vaccine either.  I'm good.  I have health issues up the ying yang but I haven't had a flu shot in 7 years .... no flu.  If I feel like I'm fighting the flu I take extra Vit. C and D., in addition to my daily multi vitamin, probiotics, aloe vera, and drink organic ginger, peppermint and chamomile tea.  If I'm stuffy I use a saline solution for the sinuses. Works just fine.

I know several people who swear by taking Airborne when they start to feel run down.

Nope.  No vaccines for this kid.  Notta.