IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is projecting most Iowa residents will get access to COVID-19 vaccines by spring of next year.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Patricia Winokur with UIHC says most Iowans can expect the vaccine by March or April, and it will probably take through the summer to vaccinate as many people as need to be treated.
More than 100 UIHC employees received the vaccine Monday, the first of which was Emergency department nurse David Conway in a ceremonial display that drew media attention from across the country.
UIHC hospital received 975 Pfizer doses. The hospital has around 17,000 workers.
Dr Winokur noted there are 21 million front line medical worker who'll be first in line to receive doses, along with residents of nursing homes.
She said the Moderna vaccine is under review by the FDA this week, and could be available to help jump start the vaccination process by next week.
Winokur took questions during a Monday night open forum, and assured those inquiring that the vaccines are safe.
She said one of the big unknowns is whether the vaccines will prevent or reduce the transmission of COVID-19.Winokur said they're effective in preventing symptoms of the virus, but more studies need to be done to find out if they prevent people from shedding the virus to others.