Who will be first for Covid-19 vaccine?

I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that a vaccine is in the works and undergoing emergency use authorization in the US. The American drugmaker Pfizer’s vaccine has already been approved for emergency use in the UK, and is ready to start administering the vaccine this week.

I’ve been asked many times by patients/coworkers/friends if I would get the first round of vaccines, and a report has been released on 12/3 that the first round of vaccine recipients will be offered to healthcare workers & the elderly in long term care. When the vaccine receives FDA approval, The Advisory Committee on Immunization will consider additional populations. 

What happens if another vaccine developer receives emergency use authorization? It is expected that the demand for Covid-19 vaccination far exceeds the supply. 

So how long will it be before the general public is eligible for vaccination? Something to consider is that there are approximately 21 million US healthcare workers in a range of settings that would be first in line, followed by 3 million adults that reside in LTCFs.

While the news of the vaccine offers hope, taking into account that there are 24 million people between healthcare workers and LTCF residents it could be a while before the general public will be immunized.

sources linked here