West Virginia’s First Allocation of Pfizer's COVID Vaccine Expected Dec. 14

West Virginia is gearing up to distribute its first allocations of coronavirus vaccines in the coming weeks.

Gov. Jim Justice said Wednesday that West Virginia’s initial allocation of Pfizer’s vaccine is expected to make its way to the state on Dec. 14. He said another vaccine developed by Moderna should follow in the days after.

Both companies filed applications this week for emergency use authorization with the Federal Drug Administration. The commissioner of the FDA said the agency is working “day and night” on the approvals.

With nearly half of the state’s coronavirus deaths attributed to nursing home patients and others in assisted living, Gen. James Hoyer of the West Virginia National Guard said doses of the vaccine will be delivered directly to those facilities.

State health officials have released a draft plan for distributing the vaccine. It prioritizes health care workers and those 65 years of age and older, as well as others at risk for severe illness from COVID-19.