KALAMAZOO, Michigan — The first shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine for widespread use in the United States are headed from Michigan to distribution centers across the country, including Colorado.
The first round of the Pfizer vaccine will be given this week to health care workers and at nursing homes. The shipments Sunday morning set in motion the biggest vaccination effort in American history.
The Colorado National Guard is expecting to deliver the first doses of the vaccine Sunday to larger hospitals in the Denver area.
It may take several days to get the doses to more rural areas in Colorado but officials say they expect smaller hospitals to have doses by mid-week.
The Moderna vaccine is also expected to be approved this week, giving Colorado another 95,600 doses. But even though the vaccine is on its way for many health care workers, officials say it will be a few months at least until the general public has access.
The shots that are critical to stopping the nation’s coronavirus outbreak are destined to reach states a day later.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized emergency use of the vaccine Friday, saying it is highly protective and presents no major safety issues.
