First doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine arrive in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It's here, close to home.

A total of 1,950 of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine doses are now safely stored in sub-zero freezers at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia.

Employees in the emergency department and intensive care unit, along with workers with comorbidities, will get them first.

"The first dose will go into someone's arm at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning," said Dr. Steven Sivak, who heads the Einstein Health COVID-19 vaccine task force.

The shipment will go towards the first round of vaccinations for nearly 2,000 staff members. The process of vaccinating all Einstein employees who volunteer will take two to three months.

Dr. Steven Sivak of Einstein Heath talks about what comes next now that the Pfizer vaccine has arrived in Philadelphia.

In New Jersey, Cooper University Hospital will begin administering the shots to healthcare workers on Tuesday. St. Francis Medical Center will start next week.

When will I get the COVID-19 vaccine? We explain who goes 1st

Since the coronavirus started spreading across the globe in late 2019, scientists have been looking for a vaccine. Now that vaccines are proven, it will ultimately be up to each state to determine who will get the vaccine, and when?

Here's a breakdown of the number of vaccine vials expected to arrive in the Delaware Valley:

-In Pennsylvania, 83 state hospitals will administer 97,500 immunizations to hospital workers.

-Philadelphia will get its own direct shipment of 15,000 doses from the Centers for Disease Control

-New Jersey expects to obtain 76,000 vials of the Pfizer vaccine by Tuesday

-Delaware will get nearly 9,000 vaccine doses in its first shipment.

"Operation Warp Speed" already has the second-dose vials in storage to be delivered for patients three weeks after their first immunization shot.

More good news is likely to come, says Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine.

"If the FDA and the CDC approve the Moderna vaccine, we'll also be getting shipments of the Moderna vaccines next week," says Dr. Levine.

Moderna is up for FDA emergency use authorization approval on Thursday.

Dr. Sivak says there isn't much difference between what's inside the Pfizer and Moderna shots, though Moderna is much easier to store. It can last in a regular refrigerator for up to 30 days, while the Pfizer vaccine must be stored in temperatures as low as -94 degrees.

Dr. Sivak says there shouldn't be so much of a concern whether you receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, just that you get the same brand of vaccine for the two-dose shots.

MORE PENNSYLVANIA COVID-19 HEADLINES

The first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites across the United States on Sunday, as the nation's pandemic deaths approached the horrifying new milestone of 300,000. Frontline workers, including hospital employees, will be among the first to be vaccinated in Pennsylvania.

December 12 begins another version of a shutdown across the commonwealth. The coronavirus-related restrictions took effect on 12:01 a.m. and will last through 8 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2021.

Gov. Wolf provides update on health after testing positive for COVID-19

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf is continuing to recover at home after testing positive for the coronavirus this week. While announcing new COVID-19 restrictions in the commonwealth on Thursday, Wolf said he first tested positive Tuesday.

In 2016, Wolf was diagnosed with a treatable form of prostate cancer. A year later he received a clean bill of health. Experts say his cancer should play a minor or even no role in his recovery. Dr. Alexander Kutikov, the Chief of Urologic Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, says data shows a positive outcome for the governor is high.

Delaware Valley health officials prepare for COVID-19 vaccine distribution

'This wave is worse': Emergency room nurse warns about COVID-19 dangers

In her eight years of nursing, Julia Kristen has never seen anything like this.

"I just can't get over how bad it is," said Kristen, who is a registered nurse working in the emergency room of Einstein Hospital. "Just one after another patient coming in so sick."

Fauci: Expect similar COVID travel restrictions, advisories for Christmas holiday

Americans should expect more COVID-related restrictions and advisories for the Christmas holiday, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

How to properly wash your hands

Which masks protect those around you best?

What to do if you think you have COVID-19 symptoms

Coronavirus testing near me