Coronavirus Vaccine Could Be In Philly Next Week: Officials

Philadelphia PA

08 December, 2020

1:37 PM

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PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia is seeing a spike in coronavirus cases again following Thanksgiving, but the city's top health official offered some hope Tuesday, saying a vaccine could be here by next week. Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley explained the Food and Drug Administration is finalizing the reviews of two vaccines. A vaccine by Pfizer could be approved by the FDA this week, and if so Farley said Philadelphia could likely have limited quantities as soon as next week. Additionally, if the Moderna vaccine is approved in two weeks, the city would likely have limited doses the following week. Both vaccines tout a 95 percent effectiveness rate. Farley has said vaccine priority will be given to healthcare professionals who routinely encounter the coronavirus. As the vaccine becomes more available, doses will be administered to more people. According to Farley, cases are spiking in the city and around the country following Thanksgiving. Philadelphia had 1,408 more cases identified Tuesday, bringing the total case count since March 10 to 75,458. Farley shared a story of a woman reached through the city's contact tracing. The woman, who is in her 20s, experienced symptoms the day before Thanksgiving, but gathered with 10 others on Thanksgiving. The next day she tested positive. Farley said at least seven others who gathered with her tested positive. Farley said while most people followed the guidelines to avoid large family gatherings, many people did not. "We can't afford to have more case spikes like this Thanksgiving spike," he said. Fifty-two additional deaths were reported Tuesday. The city's coronavirus death toll now stands at 2,107. Of those deaths, 950 were long-term care facility residents. In Philadelphia, 886 people are hospitalized with the coronavirus. That is an increase of about 200 patients since two weeks ago. In the spring, about 1,000 people were hospitalized, but Farley said if the trend continues, more than 1,000 people will be hospitalized. Of those patients, 121 are on ventilators. Hospitals in the city are showing signs of strain and are having difficulty maintaining staff levels, Farley said. Farley said Northeast Philadelphia hospitals are being hit particularly hard. Nursing homes are seeing an increase in cases as well, with more than 160 cases identified in the weeks of Nov. 15 and Nov. 22. Those figures are not as high as they were in the spring, but a large increase from the 10 to 15 cases a week in the summer. Fifty nursing home residents are in the city's coronavirus relief unit. Coronavirus testing labs are seeing delays in reporting results. Farley said most labs are seeing three to four turnover times for results, but some are experiencing waits of up to seven days. RELATED: COVID Vaccine Inching Closer In PA: See Your Estimated Wait Time