Three potential vaccine candidates will be available if approved by the FDA. If approved, the vaccine could be available to the public before the end of the year.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said there is a two-phase plan to bring the vaccine to Mississippians.
Phase 1A would secure roughly 90,000 vaccines to be made available to first responders, front line healthcare workers and others who are in harm’s way.
Phase 1B would then spread the vaccine out among high risk individuals in nursing homes.
Phase 2 would then make the vaccine more available to the general public. Dobbs estimated that those with less risk will be able to access the vaccine by the spring.
“Eventually we hope to have enough vaccine for every person in the state,” said Dobbs.
Most of the vaccines like Moderna and Pfizer will be a two-dose process. Dobbs said it will be given through distribution centers set up by MSDH, as well as Walgreens and CVS, who have contracted to administer the vaccine.
Dobbs said that as the FDA releases findings, the MSDH will be reviewing the information in order to be prepared to make the vaccines available to Mississippians.
