COVID-19 vaccine supplies will continue to increase over next few weeks

Ashley O'Brien Dec 21, 2020

Dr. Bernard Boehmer was among the first to get the vaccine at Cassia Regional Hospital. He says, "I recovered from COVID, but six of my patients--personal friends of mine--did not. I want to be part of the solution, and I hope others will follow my lead as we combat this potentially deadly and debilitating infectious disease."

Tier 1 caregiver access to COVID-19 vaccines will increase starting next week with shipments of the recently FDA-authorized Moderna vaccine to 10 Intermountain facilities. The Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines have very similar vaccine characteristics, safety, effectiveness, and side effects:

Moderna’s vaccine: recommended safe for use for adults 18 and older, estimated 94 percent effective two weeks after the second dose; the second dose is required 28 days after the initial dose.
Pfizer’s vaccine: recommended safe for use in individuals 16 and older, estimated 95 percent effective two weeks after the second dose; the second dose is required 21 days after the initial dose.
Both vaccines are mRNA vaccines (visit Intermountain.com/covidvaccine and click “How do COVID-19 vaccines work? to learn about mRNA vaccines).

Both vaccines have potential side effects, as with any vaccination, including: pain, swelling, or redness at the site of injection; fever; chills; feeling tired; headache; muscle and joint aches, and occasional lymph node swelling.
Vaccine brands aren’t interchangeable. Caregivers must receive the same brand of vaccine for both doses, either two doses of Pfizer vaccine or two doses of Moderna vaccine. Caregivers will be reminded to schedule their second appointment when they register and consent to vaccination. If physicians, APPs, or caregivers receive their vaccination at a non-Intermountain location, they must receive the second dose of the same brand of vaccine at that location.
Access more product and safety information from the CDC on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines on the CDC website.

The vaccines are so similar that Intermountain isn’t recommending one over the other to any particular group. Caregiver will receive access to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at Intermountain facilities that can accommodate storage space and requirements for each vaccine, and meet the needs of their Tier 1 populations.

Intermountain is currently administering Pfizer vaccines to Tier 1 caregivers who can access the vaccines at: Alta View Hospital, Cassia Regional Hospital, Intermountain Medical Center, LDS Hospital, Logan Regional Hospital, McKay-Dee Hospital, Utah Valley Hospital, and St. George Regional Hospital (Dixie).

We expect to begin receiving shipments of the Moderna vaccine within the next week at: American Fork, Cedar City, Primary Children’s, Park City, Layton, Riverton, Garfield, Bear River, Orem, and Heber Valley hospitals. Tier 1 caregivers at these facilities will be able to schedule appointments within days.

To learn more about COVID-19 vaccines, including access, which groups are in which tier, safety, effectiveness, and side effect information, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine site. All caregivers will get their turn to access the vaccine as soon as possible in the coming weeks. You’ll receive an email from your hospital nurse administrator, medical director, or leader with a link to schedule. Please don’t forward that link to others. We’re expanding access to vaccination as we receive more supplies.

Also please reference and direct patients and community members to our public website at Intermountain.com/covidvaccine if they have questions about vaccine access, timing, safety, effectiveness, or have other frequently asked questions. Remember that whether or not you’re vaccinated, you should continue to follow all available prevention methods including masking, wearing appropriate PPE, social distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene until healthcare guidance changes.