Here Are The States—And City—The CDC Is Preparing For A Coronavirus Vaccine

California, Florida, Minnesota, North Dakota and Philadelphia were reportedly instructed this week by federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to begin planning how they would distribute the vaccine. 

They were asked to draw up proposals regarding storage and transportation that will be shared with other states to help with their planning. 

These states will also have to prioritize who should get the vaccine first, which will likely be essential workers and front-line healthcare professionals. 

Contrary to Trump’s insistence that the military will deliver vaccines to states, a Health and Human Services official clarified the Defense Department will control logistics, while “commercial distribution partners” will make sure states receive doses. 

On Friday, the president announced a new partnership medical supplier McKesson, which will play a central role in rapidly distributing the vaccine when it’s ready. 

Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, emphasized this week the need to complete plans before October 1 as that’s the soonest the vaccines could be available.