Statement on Emergency Use Approval for Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine

By Andy Brailo, Chief Customer Officer

Today’s announcement of the FDA’s emergency use approval for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is welcome news. The availability of vaccine doses in less than one year from COVID-19 onset in January of 2020 represents a remarkable scientific achievement and is a testament to American ingenuity and progress.

While a commercially available COVID-19 vaccine is an important milestone on the road to recovery, mass vaccination of the American people represents a monumental effort unlike any we’ve undertaken before. The distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines to the public will be the supply chain and population health challenge of the pandemic.

Enormous hurdles and questions remain on security, cold-chain capability and supplies, and equitable access and distribution in rural and diverse communities. Alongside these added complexities, many of Premier’s members have been designated a hub, tasked with distribution to other vaccination facilities within their states.

As we move forward to vaccinate large portions of our population, Premier remains committed to sharing education, best practices and solutions ─ while working closely with our members to help ensure this vital effort runs as smoothly as possible. Our members, and the healthcare community, stand ready to rise to meet this monumental challenge.