The Times 

Four-county Pfizer partnership begins

 

Last updated 2/26/2021 at 9:47am



DAVENPORT – Lincoln County’s share of the Moderna vaccine aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 has been reduced to zero in the past weeks as the state puts emphasis on mass vaccination sites and winter storms nationwide slow down shipping.

That goose egg of new doses has been felt in many rural counties, not just here. Fortunately for rural health departments, there is a second FDA-approved vaccine by Pfizer that requires two shots spread three weeks apart.

Now, individual rural counties don’t have the capacity to store the Pfizer shots that must be kept at freezing temperatures between -112 and -76 degrees Fahrenheit, especially when considering that the doses are sent 1,170 doses at a time. So, Lincoln County has partnered with Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties to receive shipments of the Pfizer vaccine that will be shared between the four counties for disbursement.

The first shipment was two packs totaling 2,340 doses, according to Lincoln County Health Department public administrator Ed Dzedzy. Lincoln County initially didn’t take many as the hospitals and health department figure out how to divvy work between their limited staff.

“The hospital (Lincoln Hospital) took 92 doses and Odessa took 180,” Dzedzy said.

Odessa was planning to do a clinic Feb. 24 at press time, and Lincoln Hospital was hoping to do the same Feb. 26.

Staffing is limited because the county is also trying to finish its second doses for those who received a Moderna shot. Due to delayed shipments, local hospitals had to delay many second shot appointments to this week, so health staffs are trying to balance giving booster shots and planning for first Pfizer doses.

The booster shots will go to first responders and some ages 65+ who are still awaiting their second shot, Dzedzy said. The first shots of Pfizer will still be the elderly and those 50 and up living in a multigenerational household until the state approves a move forward, he added.

 

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