Santa Clara County Secures 39K Doses Of Moderna Vaccine

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Santa Clara County has secured 39,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine for delivery later this month, officials said Wednesday night in a news release.

The delivery is contingent on the vaccine receiving Emergency Use Authorization from the federal government.

County officials had already anticipated receiving 17,550 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

These early doses of the two coronavirus vaccines will first go to those in the highest risk categories as defined by the federal government and State of California.

Both messenger RNA vaccines require two doses, meaning that between the two shipments the county will receive enough to vaccinate 28,275 people at risk of exposure to COVID-19 through their work in direct health care or long-term care settings, and residents of long-term care facilities.

“While these initial allotments will not provide vaccinations for everyone in the priority groups, more doses of both vaccines are expected to become available in the coming weeks and months,” the county’s Public Health Department said in a statement.

Experts empaneled by the FDA started weighing whether the agency should grant emergency use authorization to the Pfizer vaccine Thursday in an all-day meeting.

The Moderna vaccine will undergo the same review process Dec. 17.

“The County is prepared to rapidly and equitably distribute all vaccine does it receives according to a required vaccine plan submitted to the state earlier this month," officials said.

"As is the case in other counties across the state, the County Public Health Department will help to allocate vaccine doses to hospitals in the county."

Storage and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines presents unique challenges. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are required to be stored at low and ultra-low temperatures.

“The County continues to receive information from the federal and state government about vaccine prioritization, allocation, requirements, and timelines, and will continue to share that information with stakeholders and the public as we receive it,” county officials said.