IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is expecting to be among the first to receive shots of the COVID-19 vaccine.
It plans to administer doses from Pfizer next week after the state receives its first shipment, which is scheduled for Sunday.
That shipment will only come if the FDA approves emergency use of the vaccine, which is expected today.
The hospital says it'll first give shots to frontline medical workers, with a goal of reassuring the public of the vaccine's safety.
It expects to get about 1,000 doses that will be prioritized to workers who are the most directly involved with COVID-19 patients.
The vaccine will not be mandatory for staff but "strongly encouraged".
University of Iowa Hospitals already has experience with the Pfizer vaccine, having been involved with patient test trails of the drug earlier this year.
It also is preparing to be a major storage center for the Pfizer shots, which require storage at -94 degrees Fahrenheit. The hospital purchased two ultra-low freezers last month with the intent of harboring the vaccine.
Iowa is scheduled to receive 172,000 doses of vaccines this month from Pfizer and Moderna that are prioritized for medical staff and nursing homes.