CDC, HHS readying “large-scale” distribution of COVID-19 vaccines

ATLANTA — The U.S government is letting Georgia know that it is preparing to distribute hundreds of millions of vaccines as early as this fall.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a letter to all U.S. governors notifying them of the preparations to “implement large-scale distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in the fall of 2020.”

Health officials say the distribution program will potentially involve hundreds of millions of vaccine doses to be distributed across the country.

The CDC has contracted with McKesson Corporation to distribute the vaccines to state and local health departments, medical facilities, doctor office and other facilities.

McKesson says it will open new distribution centers and acquire new licenses and permits.

The letter sent to the governors, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, ask for cooperation in approving and possibly “waiving requirements” for the permits. McKesson says it hopes to have the centers operational by Nov. 1.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot talked to Gov. Kemp about the state’s readiness for a possible vaccine. Kemp said the state is already creating a new task force to streamline the process.

“That’s kind of what we’re looking at right now,” Kemp said. “I think there’s a lot of that piece to it, but then just the logistics of, you know where it’s going to be, where it needs to go, who’s going to get it, you know. All of those things we’re working and digging into right now.”

Kemp acknowledged that some people are hesitant to get the vaccine, especially if it comes out quickly.

“I think it’s important for all of us that are in government, especially at the federal level, the FDA and the CDC and others to make sure that the vaccine, when it comes out, it’s ready,” Kemp said. “I”m sure that they’ll do that. I have high confidence in that.”

There are currently no vaccines approved yet by officials for mass distribution. Only nine are in the final phases of human trials and of those, only three have been approved, but not in the United States.

COVID-19 vaccine tracker: How close are we to getting a vaccine?

Cox Media Group