Senator Bill Cassidy says Pfizer has started shipping its COVID vaccine to Louisiana and other pre-positioned sites across the country. Cassidy says a distribution plan for Louisiana is in place and local companies have been enlisted to safely transport the vaccine.
“I know Morris and Dixon, a good Shreveport distributorship is one of the places involved in the state’s plan and so whether it’s Pfizer or the other vaccine, Shreveport’s going to play a role.”
Three pharmaceutical companies say they have developed a highly effective COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer could receive approval from the U-S Food and Drug Administration as early as next week.
Cassidy says Pfizer’s vaccine must be stored at very low temperatures and only a few staging sites in Louisiana have that capability.
“At Oschner New Orleans they have one of the deep freezers required for the Pfizer vaccine, so already in Louisiana we are getting ready for that distribution.”
Moderna and AstraZeneca are also set to apply for emergency approval for vaccine distribution.
Cassidy is confident that the first wave of vaccinations, those for healthcare workers and nursing home residents, will begin mid-month in Louisiana.
“Ultimately I think it will happen, and if it’s indicated for me I will take it.”
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