The Hawai’i Department of Health on Friday placed its first order of coronavirus vaccines, manufactured by Pfizer and is said to be ninety five percent effective.
The order, however, is for less than five thousand vaccines. It is what is called a prepositioning order and represents a fraction of what the state will order if the vaccine is approved by the FDA.
A DOH spokesperson said that the order wont be shipped until the US Food and Drug Administration approves the vaccine. Lt. Gov. Josh Green stated in the past that no vaccine will be used in Hawai’i until it is approved by the FDA and declared safe by state health authorities as well.
Green said that the vaccinations of healthcare workers, first responders, and the elderly will be the first priority and are likely to begin in the next ten to fifteen days. However, the logistics needed for mass vaccination of the general population is not likely to occur until late spring or early summer.
By Kristofel Abella
Ka Lā News staff writer
