Gov. Jim Justice suggested West Virginians may expect the availability of vaccines for covid-19 just a couple of weeks into December, and he’s so confident that he’s considering getting his own shot on one of his regular broadcasts.
“I’ll promise you the very, very second I can get the vaccination, I’ll be taking it as well as my family,” he said.
The governor said the first batch of vaccine is likely to come from Pfizer, arriving between Dec. 10 and 12. Another vaccine produced by Moderna will come out shortly after that.
“Both the vaccines, you have to take two shots,” he said. “It doesn’t mean a shot today, a shot tomorrow; a shot now, a shot in an hour. There’s three or four weeks difference.”
Justice expressed confidence that the Food and Drug Administration is providing adequate oversight. “We have the most stringent guidelines in the land,” he said.
The governor said Gen. James Hoyer is spearheading distribution efforts. Justice said he will sign an executive order setting up a task force to focus on distribution.
“It’ll be way ahead of when the vaccine needs to be here,” Justice said of the task force.
Hoyer said the initial focus will be on nursing homes because so many fatalities have been residents. More distribution will be aimed at assuring uninterrupted services by healthcare providers.
“We need to understand it is a complicated vaccine to distribute,” Hoyer said of the Pfizer version.
“It has environmental issues related to temperature. The doses have to be broken down once they come to the state of West Virginia. So a lot of work will be done in that area to meet the objectives.”
Responding to a question about public trust in the vaccines, Justice indicated he’s strongly considering getting his own shot on camera. Last month, while urging state residents to get flu shots Justice got his for the public to see.
“We’ve got to encourage and encourage and encourage people to get the vaccine,” he said. “I’ll come on TV as quickly as they say they’re going to vaccinate me and I’ll let you watch it again.”
Clay Marsh, West Virginia’s coronavirus response coordinator, concurred.
“I know this is going to be a very safe vaccine going forward,” Marsh said, “and, like the governor, as it passes FDA approval I certainly will not hesitate to take the vaccine myself.”
West Virginia’s coronavirus numbers have continued to rise, with the state reporting 695 deaths on Wednesday.
The state also reported a new high of 510 covid-related hospitalizations, with 144 requiring intensive care unit admissions. That isn’t approaching hospital bed capacity, officials have said, but it’s a steady increase in very serious cases.
Justice urged continued use of facial coverings and social distancing.
“We’re going to get through this,” he said.