The first shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive in Berrien County very soon. Berrien County Health Department spokesperson Gillian Conrad spoke with WSJM News about the plans.
“It is going straight to Lakeland’s hospital first, and that will be the first priority group to be vaccinated,” Conrad said. “So, it’s critical healthcare workers who have been on the front line.”
And also in that top group are nursing home workers and residents. After that will be critical workers like police and EMTs. Conrad says the Berrien County Health Department is waiting to receive its first doses of a COVID vaccine.
“The Berrien County Health Department is not on tap to receive the Pfizer vaccine just yet, but we do think we will be receiving a first shipment of the Moderna vaccine after it receives its approval, hopefully later this week.”
Conrad says after the critical infrastructure workers, those over age 65 or with underlying health conditions will go next, and then everyone else around late spring or early summer. She expects additional COVID vaccines coming to the market will be similar to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in terms of efficacy because the bar has been set so high. Conrad recommends going to the Berrien County Health Department’s website and signing up for its vaccine newsletter to stay up to date on when the vaccine will become available to you. She also notes there will be no cost for a COVID vaccine, whoever you get it from.
