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Middle Tennessee hospitals prepare to distribute COVID-19 vaccine

Posted at 7:35 AM, Dec 14, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-14 08:35:39-05

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — We’re getting closer to the light at the end of the tunnel with the fight against COVID-19.

The Pfizer vaccine is on the way to Middle Tennessee, but it's still not known when the vaccines will start to be administered.

Local hospital officials say as soon as they receive the vaccine, they're going to give them to front-line health care workers. They still don't know when it will happen but they’re getting prepared.

The news of the vaccine rollout is giving everyone a little shot of optimism during the pandemic. Shipments of the Pfizer vaccine flew out on Sunday and touched down at the FedEx hub in Memphis.

The shipments will get priority access at the airport and will be stored in a super cold sealed box with dry ice.

Metro's Coronavirus Task Force says Davidson County is getting 56,000 doses of the vaccine. While it's still not known when they will start to be administered, Pfizer is confident in its distribution plan.

"I couldn't be more confident in the distribution of the vaccine. We've worked incredibly hard over many months doing test shipments, improving our shippers, making sure that they can maintain temperature during the entire journey. And we're very happy with the solution," said Mike McDermott, president of Pfizer Global Supply.

There are 150 locations on the list to receive the vaccine first in Tennessee, most of which are hospitals.

While it’s great news the vaccine is on the way, remember it won’t be available for the general public until the spring or early summer, according to officials.