Subcommittee Tasked With Preparing RI For Coronavirus Vaccine

PROVIDENCE, RI — A vaccine for the coronavirus is nowhere near ready for mass inoculations in the United States, but Rhode Island is already taking steps to get ready. During Wednesday's weekly news conference, Gov. Gina Raimondo announced the creation of a new subcommittee that will focus on vaccine readiness and safety, specifically relating to COVID-19.

"We're not going to put a vaccine out to the people of Rhode Island until it's ready," Raimondo said.

The subcommittee is a part of the state's Vaccine Advisory Committee, a long-established group. It will have two main goals: developing independent guidelines to ensure any approved vaccinates are safe for Rhode Islanders and determining how to prioritize distribution.

"I feel very luck to have so many experts," Raimondo said of the panel, which consists of doctors, epidemiologists, scientists, pediatricians, school officials, faith leaders and more, ensuring a broad perspective.

Once vaccines are widely available, the state will use some of its federal coronavirus stimulus funding to make sure they are widely available to all Rhode Islanders, regardless of insurance, immigration status, income level and more, Raimondo said.

The governor cautioned Rhode Islanders not to put too much stock in vaccines right away, saying that even when one becomes widely available, it will take time before safety regulations can be relaxed.

"A vaccine is not a silver bullet," Raimondo said, saying that they will need to be acquired, widely distributed and administered, given a second dose if needed, then more time needed to allow immunity to develop.

Even once a vaccine is available and distributed, mask-wearing requirements, limits on very large gatherings and some social gathering limits will have to remain in place until widespread immunity is established, she continued.