NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee Health officials say the state could receive a COVID-19 vaccine in December, which would then likely be made available to the general public by late spring, early summer.
Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said the state will likely receive the Phizer COVID-19 vaccine around December 15; the exact date is not set. The Moderna vaccine is expected to follow one week after that. Piercey said they would be ready to begin distribution immediately after receiving the vaccine.
According to the state's vaccine distribution plan, frontline healthcare workers and first responders will be the first to be vaccinated. They will be followed by outpatient healthcare workers, older adults in group care facilities, and people with high risks of complications of COVID due to other illnesses.
It isn't until Phase 3 and 4 of the plan that the vaccine would be made widely available to the general public.
