JTDMH expects vaccine Dec. 22

With the first COVID-19 vaccines arriving in Ohio on Monday, local hospitals are preparing to receive their shipments.

Joint Township District Memorial Hospital is expected to receive its first round of vaccine distribution on Dec. 22.

The hospital will be receiving the vaccine manufactured by Moderna, an American biotechnology company based in Massachusetts.

In their study released last month, Moderna’s vaccine mRNA-1273 proved to be 94.1% effective against the coronavirus.

Moderna’s vaccine is expected to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration and Emergency Use Authorization authority as early as Friday and they will be distributing to 3,285 sites across the U. S.

The vaccine manufactured by Pfizer received approval on Dec. 11 and vaccinations began in Ohio on Monday, with 975 doses being delivered to the Ohio State Medical Center in the morning.

In order to be eligible to receive vaccine distribution, hospitals and health care providers had to enroll in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program.

Chief Nursing Officer of JTDMH Lana Hinders said by enrolling in the program, the hospital accepted the conditions in the agreement.

In the agreement, hospitals have to administer the vaccines in accordance with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations.

The ACIP most recently set its recommendations for the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 11.

Other conditions the hospital has agreed to include: not selling or seeking reimbursement for the vaccine provide; administering the vaccine regardless of patents ability to pay; complying with CDC requirements for vaccine management and keeping records related to vaccine management for three years; report vaccines that are unused, spoiled, expired or wasted and provide a completed vaccination record card to every recipient.

Of the three that are available or plan to be available the soonest — Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca — the vaccines shelf life varies.

Pfizer’s can be kept in a standard refrigerator for up to five days; in a dry-ice chest for up to 30 days or a freezer that reaches

−94 degrees Fahrenheit for up to six months.

The Moderna vaccine can be kept a room temperature for up to 12 hours; a standard refrigerator for up to 30 days and a standard freezer for up to six months.

The vaccine thaws in 15 minutes at room temperature.

Hinders said the hospital did not have to purchase any additional refrigeration units in preparation to receive the vaccine.

As part of the vaccination’s first phase, health care personnel will receive the vaccine first. This includes people working in hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient care facilities, emergency services and others.

The second phase will include non-health

care essential workers.

“When [the] FDA first authorizes or approves the use of one or more COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, there is a limited supply,” said Hinders. “Not everyone will be able to be vaccinated right away but, in time, as vaccination production ramps up, every Ohioan who chooses may receive a vaccine as soon as large quantities are available.”

On Monday, Gov. Mike DeWine said the state is on track to receive another 650,000 doses in January and will continue to receive the same amount for the upcoming months.

So far, there have been 579,357 total coro

navirus cases in Ohio that have left over 7,500 dead.

A vaccine will work to stop the spread of the virus and Hinders said fighting a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic requires “using all the tools available.”

“Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed,” she said. “Other steps, like masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following CDC’s recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19.”