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CHARLESTON -- West Virginia is ranked 13th in the nation for most in need state of the coronavirus vaccine distribution, according to a study based on CDC data.
A total of 6.8% of West Virginia's population is categorized as "high priority" for the vaccine, which includes high-risk workers in health care facilities and first responders as well as older adults who live in congregated or overcrowded areas, such as nursing and residential care residents.
The Mountain State has 100,883 health care workers and 21,431 seniors living in assisted care facilities, according to the independent study, which was not created by or being used by the federal government.
New York (8.5%), Massachusetts (8.1%) and South Dakota (8.0%) are the three most in-need states based on the study's ranking. The three lowest ranking states are Nevada (4.5%), Wyoming (4.9%) and Utah (4.9%).
There are roughly 20 million high-priority individuals -- 3,714,960 seniors and 16,926,288 health care workers -- across the U.S.
Anticipation is high that vaccine distribution may begin within the next week.
In their first evaluation of the Pfizer vaccine, which was the first vaccine submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization, FDA scientists this week confirmed that it offers strong protection, setting the stage for the government to green light the biggest vaccination effort in the nation's history. The FDA's independent advisers were to meet Thursday to debate whether evidence was strong enough to recommend vaccinating millions of Americans. A final FDA decision and the first shots could follow within days.
During Wednesday's briefing, Gov. Jim Justice announced that the initial allocation of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the second vaccine submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization, that will be received in West Virginia has been increased to 32,600 doses.
While announcing the state's initial allocation plan last week, Justice reported that West Virginia was supposed to receive 26,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
Justice announced Monday that West Virginia officials have submitted the state's initial Pfizer vaccine order to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, requesting the state's maximum-allowed weekly ordering cap of 16,575 doses.
West Virginia plans to receive an initial allocation of approximately 60,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
Justice said the targeted receipt date for the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine is Tuesday. However, he pointed out that date is an estimate, dependent upon approval by the FDA, and subject to change.
There will be a limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine when it first becomes available, so the vaccine will be distributed in phases, based on risk for contracting COVID-19.
In accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, the first-available vaccine doses will be distributed to healthcare workers, long-term care facility staff and residents, individuals critical to community infrastructure and emergency response, public health officials, and first responders.
The initial allocation of vaccines will be distributed to five hub locations with ultra-cold storage in West Virginia in Berkeley, Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha and Monongalia counties.
Justice also announced that the plan involves eventually scaling up distribution through additional providers in West Virginia. More than 500 potential sites have currently enrolled to help distribute vaccine doses, and the Governor said that he will be pushing for even more providers, pharmacies, and more to enroll as well.
The vaccines will require two doses. Justice added that it is extremely important to receive both doses of the vaccine because, if only one vaccine is received, immunity cannot be guaranteed.
The vaccines are not interchangeable, meaning if you receive the Pfizer product in the first shot, you need to receive Pfizer for the second shot.