ALMOST 5K PFIZER VACCINE DOSES TO ARRIVE IN SONOMA COUNTY AS SOON AS WEDNESDAY. MORE FROM MODERNA LIKELY NEXT WEEK.

The vaccine must be stored at ultra cold temperatures of approximately 80 degrees below zero celsius. The hospitals as well as public health department have the capability to properly store the Pfizer vaccine.

The hospitals will be vaccinating Tier 1 patients according to CDC guidelines, which means healthcare front line workers will be among the first to receive the vaccine, as well as others who are considered most vulnerable such as public safety officers.

Dr. Kismet Baldwin of the county public health office said the first 4875 doses in Sonoma County will likely be distributed only to frontline and other healthcare and public safety employees. Later shipments will reach others within the Tier 1 category, including vulnerable patients in long term care facilities.

The Pfizer vaccine can be stored for up to 5 days, and public health officials will be moving quickly to get the vaccine distributed to hospitals and then throughout their systems as soon as possible.

Public health officer Dr. Sundari Mase said a second shipment of more than 5 thousand vaccine doses, this time from Moderna, will likely arrive as early as next week. This will depend on the Moderna vaccine receiving final federal approval. This vaccine can be stored at less extreme low temperatures, minus 20 degrees celsius, and thus can be shipped directly to more health care facilities.

Public health officials including Dr. Baldwin say this shipment will allow healthcare providers and the county to begin reaching more people within the Tier 1 priority list established by the Centers for Disease Control.