ISDH: COVID-19 Vaccines Will Likely Be Available By The End Of The Year

Friday, December 4, 2020 at 10:55 AM

Supply will be limited at first with the vaccine expected to be widely available in 2021.

Shutterstock photo.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – It should not be too much longer before COVID-19 vaccines are distributed in Indiana, but supply will be limited.

The first two vaccines expected to be available are being manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna. The State Department of Health expects those vaccines to be available before the end of the year.

The ISDH says their top priority is safety. Before any vaccine is released, it must first complete three phases of clinical trials to study its effect on thousands of diverse study populations.

Once the study is complete, the pharmaceutical companies submit their results for Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. FDA. The vaccine is also reviewed by the CDC.

The next step is for the Indiana Department of Health’s Vaccine Allocation Plan Development Advisory Group to make final recommendations on the ethical and equitable allocation of a limited COVID-19 vaccine.

ISDH officials say the first round of vaccine will go to long-term care center staff and healthcare personnel who may be exposed to COVID-19 patients or infectious material.

The vaccine will not initially be available for children or pregnant women.

Vaccine providers will be able to bill a patient’s insurance for a fee to administer the vaccine but will not be able to charge the patient.

Until the vaccine is available to the public, the State Department of Health urges Hoosiers to take the following steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

Wear a mask to protect yourself and others
Stay at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arm lengths)
Practice good hand hygiene by washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer
Isolate yourself if you’re sick and stay home if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19
Clean frequently touched surfaces often

The COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be widely available sometime in 2021.

For more information on the vaccine, visit www.coronavirus.in.gov.