SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sanford Health received its first shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday.
The health system says it has received 3,900 doses with more expected in the coming weeks. Vaccinations for front-line health care workers will begin on Tuesday.
Sanford Health also said it invested in special cold storage facilities with the ability to store around 500,000 doses.
Who gets a vaccine first in South Dakota?
There is a 3 phase approach of vaccine administration —
- Phase 1: “Potentially Limited Doses Available”
- Phase 2: “Large Number of Doses Available, Supply Likely to Meet Demand”
- Phase 3: “Likely Suffcient Supply, Slowing Demand”
Throughout Phase 1 and Phase 2, South Dakota’s three primary health care systems — Avera, Sanford and Monument Health — will provide the vaccination services to “priority populations.”
Who is in Phase 1 of getting the vaccine?
The state determined through an allocation criteria four key priorities
- Risk for acquiring infection
- Risk of severe outcome due to infection
- Risk of negative societal impact
- Risk of of transmitting infection to others
Based on that criteria, health care workers, first responders and older adults living in congregate settings will receive the first vaccines as described in Phase 1A and Phase 1B.
How much vaccine is needed to cover Phase 1?
Estimations for the population for Phase 1A are 23,171. Vaccine dose allocation will continue under Phase 1A until the population is met. Phase 1B will start after Phase 1A.
South Dakota is set to receive 7,800 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine starting Monday, Dec. 14. Pfizer will send another set of 7,800 doses within about three weeks to provide second doses to people who got the first round of shots.
When will Phase 2 start?
Health officials said limited vaccine doses are expected throughout Phase 1 and Phase 2 isn’t expected to start until 2021. As vaccine becomes available, location of vaccination sites will be found at Vaccinefinder.org.
