DES MOINES, Iowa -- There's a clearer picture of how the COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed in Iowa.
"With FDA approval, we anticipate receiving our first shipment of approximately 26,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine around December 13th. The week of December 20th, we anticipate another 31 doses of that vaccine, and pending its approval, our first shipment of 54,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine" says Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.
She says 172,000 doses of the vaccine could be in the state by the end of the month.
Reynolds says the state will follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines on who gets the first COVID-19 vaccinations.
"In Iowa, we'll distribute a portion of the allocation to hospitals for their workforce, and to our long term care facilities" she says.
Iowa Department of Human Services Director Kelly Garcia says by the middle of 2021, the state should have enough doses of vaccine for everyone who want it.
She says initial doses will be targeted for the most at-risk populations.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, each taken 28 days apart.