DES MOINES - Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says the state is ready to receive and quickly distribute the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Her response comes after a U.S. government advisory panel approved emergency use of the vaccine in a 17-4 vote with one abstention Thursday.
Iowa is scheduled to receive its first shipment of Pfizer vaccines this Sunday.
In a statement, Reynolds reiterate the state's plan to administer the doses first to medical workers and nursing homes.
The governor said it would take time before the vaccine is widely available, and public health measures must be practiced in the meantime.
A total of 172,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine are scheduled to be delivered into Iowa by the end of December. The Moderna vaccine has not yet been cleared for emergency use.
Governor Reynolds entire statement released Thursday evening is below:
“The FDA approval for the Pfizer vaccine is great news for the state of Iowa and the entire country, and will allow us to move forward in our recovery from COVID-19 with even greater certainty. Because of our proactive planning, our state is ready to receive shipments and quickly distribute them so that our health care workforce and long-term care residents will be vaccinated first.
“While this is a positive step forward, it will take time until the vaccine is widely available. Until then, we must continue to mitigate the virus by practicing public health measures so we can protect the most vulnerable and preserve hospital resources, while keeping our economy open and our kids in school.”