BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee met for two hours Friday afternoon but did not address when the general public will start get vaccinated for the coronavirus.
Public health district officials told committee members that it has been a hectic, challenging and exciting week as the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine were administered to frontline workers around the state. In all, 13,650 doses were delivered to seven Idaho public health districts.
The committee spent about an hour discussing which worker subgroups will get priority when they are done vaccinating healthcare workers who care for COVID patients and residents and staff of long-term care facilities in Idaho.
That discussion got bogged down and votes were taken on just seven subgroups. Two groups were not given a higher priority. They are medical waste workers and drivers who transport adults 65 and older with high-risk medical conditions. The committee agreed to take up the rest of the subgroups at its next meeting on Jan. 8.
The meeting comes one day after Idaho health officials learned that the number of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine expected to arrive in the Gem State next week has been significantly reduced, with the state set to receive 44% less than the expected amount.
Idaho was expected to receive 17,550 doses of the Pfizer vaccine through Operation Warp Speed for the week of Dec. 21. On Wednesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare learned the state would only be receiving 9,750 doses of the vaccine.
No explanation was given during Friday's meeting as to why the number of Pfizer vaccines was dramatically reduced.
Sarah Leeds is the program manager for the Idaho Immunization Program. She says it's disappointing there will be less Pfizer doses available, but a second vaccine is on the way.
"The good news is that next week we have confirmed that we have 28,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine coming into Idaho," Leeds said. Final approval of the vaccine from the FDA could clear the way for its use as early as Monday in the U.S.
The Moderna vaccine is much easier to distribute and administer. It does not have to be stored in ultra-cold freezers. Both vaccines require a second shot for full protection.
People can now go to the state's coronavirus website to get updated information on the number of Idahoans who have received their vaccination.
The Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee was formed by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare at the direction of Gov. Brad Little in October and its members represent stakeholders from across Idaho, including the tribes, priority populations, healthcare systems and providers, and immunization organizations.
Watch the meeting on our YouTube channel.
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