Orange County will receive its first shipment of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as early as Wednesday, Dec. 16, according to Orange County Health Care Agency press release.

During a press conference on Dec. 10, Chau explained that the California Department of Public Health informed OCHA on Dec. 1 that it should prepare to receive more than 25,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

“The health care agency was notified by the California Department of Public Health on Dec. 1, that we should make preparation to receive 25,350 doses of Pfizer-manufactured COVID-19 vaccine approximately Dec. 14, or [Dec.] 15,” Chau said. “HCA will distribute this initial supply to Orange County hospitals for prioritization of their high-risk health care providers.”

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee recommended the emergency use of the vaccine created by Pfizer and BioNTech on Friday Dec. 11, and later that night, the FDA announced the authorization for its use.

Today, FDA issued the first emergency use authorization (EUA) for a vaccine for the prevention of #COVID19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 16 years of age and older. The emergency use authorization allows the vaccine to be distributed in the U.S. https://t.co/1Vu0xQqmCB pic.twitter.com/c8maeePP9O

— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) December 12, 2020

Chau explained that once distributed, it will become the responsibility of local hospitals to distribute to employees, based on risk factors.

“Through Phase1A of prioritized health care workers, local hospitals will need to determine which segment of their employees are at higher risk of contracting the virus, due to this limited quantity,” Chau said.

Chau added that the first phase of the vaccine distribution in Orange County would include emergency room and intensive care unit personnel.

“All the hospitals in Orange County are ready to receive the vaccine, and they have a plan in place to deliver the vaccine,” he said. “We are assessing readiness which includes enrollment in the state of California’s COVID-19 ready system, and the ability to safely store, transport and administer the vaccine.”

Chau added that he is unsure of the total number of doses, however the Moderna-manufactured vaccine is slated for an emergency use review by the FDA on Dec. 17.

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