ALEXANDRA: A HEALTH EXPERT AT CHI HOSPITAL, RESPONDING TO PFIZER’S ANNOUNCEMENT, SAYS THERE IS STILL A LONG ROAD AHEAD UNTIL A VACCINE REACHES THE GENERAL PUBLIC. DAVID: KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S KATHERINE GARCIA HAS THE STORY. KATHERINE: CHI INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT, DR. DAVID QUIMBY, SAYS HE’S “CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC” ABOUT THE PFIZER VACCINE. QUIMBY SAYS THE RESULTS OF THE COMPANY’S TRIAL ARE PROMISING, BUT THE PROCESS OF FDA APPROVAL LIKELY MEANS A LONG WAIT TIME FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED. >> THE AVERAGE PERSON, NOT A FRONTLINE WORKER, WHICH FRONTLINE WORKERS INCLUDE PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS, AND EVEN I WOULD CONSIDER PEOPLE IN GROCERY STORES. CONVENIENCE STORES, RESTAURANTS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE UNTIL SOMETIME NEX YEAR, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PRODUCE MORE AND BE ABLE TO GET IT OUT THERE. KATHERINE: IN LATE OCTOBER, GOVERNOR, PETE RICKETTS, SUBMITTED A STATE ROLL-OUT PLAN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IF APPROVED, THE FIRST PHASE WILL VACCINATE FRONTLINE HEALTH CARE WORKERS, THEN OTHER AT-RISK POPULATIONS, BEFORE REACHING THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE VACCINE WILL BE FREE AND VOLUNTARY. GOV. RICKETTS: THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EDUCATION WITH REGARDS TO THE VACCINES, BUT IT WILL BE VOLUNTARILY WHETHER PEOPLE WANT TO GET A VACCINE. KATHERINE: ALTHOUGH IT COULD BE A YEAR UNTIL EVERYONE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO A VACCINE, QUIMBY SAYS THE DELAY IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE A MASS DISTRIBUTION IS DONE SAFELY. FOR KETV NEWSWATCH 7, I’
CHI Health infectious disease expert feels ‘cautiously optimistic’ about a Pfizer vaccine
Updated: 6:07 PM CST Nov 9, 2020
A CHI infectious disease expert responded to the Monday announcement of a new potential vaccine that would immunize people from COVID-19.On Monday, Dr. David Quimby said he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the Pfizer vaccine. Quimby said the results of the company’s trial are promising, but the process of FDA approval likely means a long wait time for everyday people to be vaccinated. Although it could be a year until everyone can have access to a vaccine, Quimby said the delay is necessary to ensure a mass distribution is done safely. “The average person, not a frontline worker, which frontline workers include people in hospitals, and even I would consider people in grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, might not be able to get the vaccine until sometime next year, because have to produce more and be able to get it out there,” said Quimby.In late October, Gov. Pete Ricketts submitted a state roll-out plan to the federal government. If approved, the first phase will vaccinate frontline health care workers, then other at-risk populations before reaching the general public. The governor said the vaccine will be free and voluntary. “There will be a lot of education with regards to the vaccines but it will be voluntarily whether people want to get a vaccine,” said Ricketts.
OMAHA, Neb. —
A CHI infectious disease expert responded to the Monday announcement of a new potential vaccine that would immunize people from COVID-19.
On Monday, Dr. David Quimby said he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the Pfizer vaccine. Quimby said the results of the company’s trial are promising, but the process of FDA approval likely means a long wait time for everyday people to be vaccinated.
Although it could be a year until everyone can have access to a vaccine, Quimby said the delay is necessary to ensure a mass distribution is done safely.
“The average person, not a frontline worker, which frontline workers include people in hospitals, and even I would consider people in grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, might not be able to get the vaccine until sometime next year, because [companies] have to produce more and be able to get it out there,” said Quimby.
In late October, Gov. Pete Ricketts submitted a state roll-out plan to the federal government. If approved, the first phase will vaccinate frontline health care workers, then other at-risk populations before reaching the general public. The governor said the vaccine will be free and voluntary.
“There will be a lot of education with regards to the vaccines but it will be voluntarily whether people want to get a vaccine,” said Ricketts.