Thousands of doses ofModerna vaccine on theway to Palm Beach County

Hospitals throughout PalmBeachCountyexpect to receive a total of 18,000 doses of the newly authorizedModerna vaccine to inoculate against COVID19 within a week, officials said Friday.

Theannouncementwas made the same day the Food and Drug Administration announced its authorization of the Moderna vaccine, and a weekafter anothervaccine developed by Pfizer received approval and began initial distribution.

Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, the Moderna doesnot require ultra-cold storage, making it easier to store and distribute.

Palm Beach County MayorDaveKerner, joined by county health director Dr. Alina Alonso and other officials, said hospitalworkerswouldbegiven priority to receive the vaccines because they are those likely to be directly exposed to COVID-positive patients in the line of their day-to-day work. Nursing home and other long-term care facility employees will also be prioritized.

Doses of the Pfizer vaccine were packed in dry ice for shipment across the country, with Broward, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando area health care workers among the first in the nation to receive the inoculations earlier thisweek.

STOCKER/SOUTHFLORIDASUNSENTINEL SUSAN Katherine Irvine, an assistant nursemanagerwith Broward Health Medical Center, receives herfirst doseofthe Pzifer COVID-19vaccineonThursday in Fort Lauderdale.