Vaccine Trial Raises Hopes, But Distribution Will Challenge States

States have worked vigorously for months on their COVID-19 vaccine plans but still face a long list of substantial uncertainties, even as hopes rise that the first vaccines could receive federal approval before the end of the year.

Despite the unknowns and the enormity of the task ahead — vaccinating a population of 330 million — state public health officials feel more confident in working with the federal government on vaccines than other matters such as testing, contact tracing and the production and distribution of medical supplies. On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden announced his pandemic response task force, and Pfizer announced that its vaccine candidate has shown in an early analysis to be more than 90% effective.

Nonetheless, states are well aware of the momentous challenge facing them. “This is the largest mass vaccination campaign I’ve ever faced in my career, and that goes back 30 years,” said Dr. Karen Landers, Alabama’s assistant medical officer.

The federal vaccine program was “slow and delayed in starting, but, when it did start in early August and September, it was very aggressive and very inclusive with a whole community approach,” said James Blumenstock, head of the pandemic response with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).