Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is reportedly being flown by United Airlines chartered flights to distribu

[Klaralven]

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine is reportedly being flown by United Airlines chartered flights to distribution hubs, in anticipation of FDA approval

As drugmaker Pfizer seeks regulatory approval for its COVID-19 vaccine, shipments have already begun making their way to distribution centers via United Airlines charters, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved the shipments, which require the vaccine candidate to be packed in dry ice, according to CNN.

"As a result of the historic pace of vaccine development through Operation Warp Speed and careful logistics planning, the FAA today is supporting the first mass air shipment of a vaccine," the agency said in a statement Friday.

The chartered flights, which began Friday, were reportedly between Brussels and Chicago, the WSJ said. They represent one leg of a chain, which will extend from Chicago to distribution hubs around the US.

https://www.businessinsider.com/united-airlines-flying-pfizer-covid-19-vaccines-distribution-hubs-2020-11

[FarPoint]

1. They will require a 28 day follow-up injection as well..

Immunity protection via vaccine will not be effective until say 2 months...that is my guess.

[Buckeyeblue]

3. Is it the same injection twice? Or is part 2 different?

And I wonder what the window for the second injection will be. For instance if you go more than 60 days after the first injection do you have to start over?

And if it takes 1 month after the second injection to get immunity, then we are looking at 2 additional months of vulnerability after the first injection.

This is going to be a nightmare. Do we divide the country up by age to give the vaccine or by some other factor? So 70 and over get it in say January/Feb. 60-69 in March/April, ect. Maybe let diabetics jump in with the over 70 crowd?

And that if they can make enough to keep up with that schedule. The entire world needs it.

[FarPoint]

4. I'd say if you miss the 28 day to 30 day window, probably may want to start over.

I don't like the two step concept for that very reason as compliance even with routine oral meds are a challenge for many let alone compliance for 80,000 or however many vaccines per first dose all at a time.....Secondly...the storage concerns me as well...

I actually don't have or know the exact window grace period they give...I heard 28-30 days apart..

[roamer65]

6. I hear first up are health care personnel, first responders and nursing homes.

After that I would guess 50 and older in the general population.

If I have my preference, I will get the Moderna one.

[JudyM]

2. FAA is mistaken about this vaccine being developed through "warp Speed." It wasn't.

I’m sure the mistake was an unintended oversight. Warp Speed is only engaging now, to help with distribution.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine development and manufacturing costs have been entirely self-funded, with billions of dollars already invested at risk. The company will continue bearing all the costs of development and manufacturing in an effort to help find a solution to this pandemic as fast as possible.

https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-update-our-us-covid-19-vaccine-candidate

For DUers who haven’t followed this, but are interested... The vaccine was developed by a German couple who founded their own medical research company. They dropped other projects and immediately switched gears to direct their efforts to finding a vaccine for Covid. Pfizer spotted the potential early and partnered with them to arrange for all the necessary testing and production. I’m not a fan of big pharma but this is an instance in which it may be saving the day.

[FarPoint]

5. I sure wish the media would get this detail correct.