NAPLES, Fla. – Dec. 17, 2020 The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is being reviewed today by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Pending approval, the State of Florida is preparing to receive 367,000 doses of the vaccine. Both NCH North Naples Hospital and NCH Baker Hospital have been selected among the 173 hospital locations to receive a shipment of the vaccine. Vaccine may arrive at NCH as early as the first half of next week.
The vaccine allocation coming to NCH is unknown at this time, however, we anticipate initial supply to be limited. Limited supply means that distribution programs, which are regulated at the state level, must initially focus on specific high-risk groups as required and defined by the Florida Department of Health (FL DOH). High risk includes front line clinical staff with the greatest risk of COVID-19 exposure. Upon receipt of the vaccine, NCH will begin vaccinating those healthcare workers identified at high occupational risk at both the Baker and North Naples campus.
NCH does not yet have authorization to vaccinate patients or the general public, but recommendations for target groups are likely to change as vaccine becomes readily available.
As a vaccine administrator, NCH is required to enter vaccination information into the Florida SHOTS program. Compliance with these requirements is mandatory in order to ensure receiving future vaccine allocations. Compliance means that we are administering the vaccine to the priority population group identified by the state.
We will continue to provide updates as we receive them. Members of the community can also speak with their primary care physician about any questions they may have surrounding the vaccine.
