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December 21, 2020

Moderna COVID-19 vaccine approved, 63,300 doses expected this week

Photo | Facebook Live Eric Arlia (left), system director of pharmacy at Hartford HealthCare, and Keith Grant, senior system director of infection prevention, with a 10-vial package of Moderna's new COVID-19 vaccine. Hartford HealthCare got 8,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine delivered on Dec. 21.
By Liese Klein

A shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrived this morning in Hartford after the medication was approved by state officials over the weekend.

About 63,300 doses of the Moderna vaccine were scheduled to be delivered to the state this week, according to Gov. Ned Lamont’s office. The Moderna doses are in addition to 31,200 doses of the previously approved Pfizer that vaccine were delivered last week, along with another 24,375 doses of the Pfizer vaccine that are anticipated to arrive this week.

Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine is similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine but Moderna’s version can be stored in normal freezers and does not require a super-cold transportation network, making it more accessible for smaller facilities and communities.

Hartford Hospital's loading dock was the site of a news conference shortly before 11 a.m. this morning as box of Moderna vaccine vials were wheeled in on a hand truck in front of a cluster of media. Hartford HealthCare got 8,800 doses of the Moderna vaccine delivered Monday. 

The state Department of Public Health added the Modern vaccine to the state’s vaccination program after it was recommended by the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group’s Science Subcommittee, a group of state experts. 

“The authorization of a second COVID-19 vaccine adds a significant asset in support of the planned expansion of vaccination efforts in Connecticut in the weeks and months ahead,” said Jason L. Schwartz and Dr. David Banach, co-chairs of the Vaccine Advisory Group. “In clinical testing, the Moderna vaccine has shown high levels of efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19 and a very favorable safety profile.”

“This is another important step forward in getting this vaccine to as many people in our state so that we can better manage this disease and prevent its spread,” Lamont said. “We’re doing everything we can to get as many doses to the people who need it most, and over the coming days and weeks we expect our supply to significantly grow.”

Healthcare workers and medical first responders are getting the COVID-19 vaccine now under the first phase of the state’s vaccination program, along with workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

This story includes reporting from CNN.com.
 

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