<\/p>\r\nAs soon as next week, the IHS will begin receiving over 68,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, officials said. These initial doses will be used to inoculate 44,000 health care professionals, plus residents of long-term elder care facilities in Indian Country.\r\n
<\/p>\r\nThe initial doses will be supplemented by a second round, officials said, as the COVID-19 vaccine requires two shots to be considered complete.\r\n
<\/P>\r\nIn total, 11 area offices of the IHS will be receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Facilities in the Alaska Area have chosen to work with the state of Alaska so their doses will be coming from the state, officials said.\r\n
<\/P>\r\nThe vaccine is being provided by two different companies: Moderna<\/a> and Pfizer<\/a>. Both companies are awaiting a decision from the Food and Drug Administration<\/a> on their emergency use authorization (EUA) applications. \r\n <\/p>\r\nPfizer received a favorable recommendation from the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee<\/a> on December 10<\/a>. FDA\r\nCommissioner Stephen M. Hahn<\/a> could make a decision on the EUA as soon as December 11.\r\n <\/p> \r\nModerna’s vaccine is going before the FDA committee on December 17<\/a>.\r\n <\/p>\r\nAccording to officials, the IHS experts to receive about 46,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine and about 22,400 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.\r\n
![\"ihscovid19vaccine\"](\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/11\/ihscovid19vaccine.jpg\")
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