(Atlantic) Cass County Public Health is waiting for FDA approval of the Moderna vaccine.
U.S. officials said they plan to ship just fewer than 6 million doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine once the FDA issues approval for emergency use, which could come as early as Thursday.
Cass County Public Health Director Beth Olson tells KSOM/KS95 News, if approved, 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine could arrive in Cass County as early as next week. “These vaccines give us a fighting chance to make a difference in our counties, state, and the entire country,” said Olson. “It’s not a required vaccine; people don’t have to get it. There is a group of scientists and medical professionals looking at the data coming out of those research studies, and we have to trust the medical community and the scientists behind this to try and get us a little more back to normal.”
Olson says the initial doses will go to healthcare personnel and long term care facility residents and staff, and any individual with a medical type license. Olson says personnel from the Retail Pharmacy Partnership would administer the vaccine.
Once the vaccination program begins, nothing changes at this time,” said Olson. “The individuals getting the vaccine still need to take extra precautions. We’re still learning about this vaccine as far as how long and how well it works.
“It’s more important than ever for people to wear face coverings, stay home if not feeling well, get tested if needed, and continue to social distance,” said Olson. “Those things are so important, and not just because of COVID, but it’s also that time of year when we see a lot of other respiratory illnesses going around.”
Olson says the vaccine will not be available to the general public yet, but when it is, Cass County Public Health will get the information out to the public.
