The public health departments in Casper and Cheyenne received their first COVID-19 vaccine doses on Monday, December 14, and hospitals in Cody, Jackson, and Gillette are expected to get their vaccine packages on Tuesday.This first week, close to 5,000 doses will arrive in the state. The Wyoming Department of Health's Kim Deti said these will go to those people who have regular potential exposure to the virus. That includes hospital staff and emergency response personnel.
A second company's vaccine looks like it may be approved at the end of this week. Deti said Moderna plans to ship the vaccine in packages of 100.
"So that gives us a little more flexibility for some of our counties that have lower populations," said Deti. "We're trying to be fair across the board and equitable. It [The Moderna vaccine] has a different storage requirement, so we're just right making our plans based on getting the best usage out of what's available. We don't want anything to be wasted."
Deti said assuming there are no hiccups with the Moderna authorization, every county should have received the vaccine by next week.
Once it's received by those who have regular contact with the virus, it will be given to long-term care facility residents, as well as others who are at high risk.