Delaware announces plans for COVID-19 vaccine distribution

DELAWARE – Delaware announced it expects to receive 8,775 initial doses of the Pfizer vaccine within the next few days.

Governor John Carney and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced the plans plans to distribute the Pfizer Bio-N-Tech COVID-19 vaccine Friday evening.

Once Delaware gets the vaccine, health care systems will be able to start vaccinating their frontline employees  within 24 hours upon receiving the vaccine.
DPH has created a three-tier strategy for distribution.

Phase 1a: Health care personnel, emergency medical services agencies, and long-term care staff and residents will receive the vaccine first.

Remainder of Phase 1: In early 2021, those who work in high-risk and critical infrastructure industries such as food processing, utilities, education, police and fire, those who work and live in congregate settings such as correctional facilities and homeless shelters, as well as those with certain underlying health conditions, and are aged 65 and older are likely to receive the vaccine.

Phase 2: Around March 2021, those with more moderate-risk for getting COVID-19 are eligible for receiving the vaccine. More details about specific groups in this phase will be provided as we get closer.

Phase 3: Around Spring/Summer 2021, the general public can expect to receive vaccines through their primary health care providers, health centers and pharmacies as the vaccine becomes more widely available.

Officials say  the potential side effects from the vaccine are similar to those experienced by people who receive the flu shot, and usually go away within 24 hours.
While DPH does not plan to mandate the vaccine, it is strongly encouraging people get vaccinated once doses become available.

If you would like up-to-date information, you can visit de.gov/covidvaccine