Ottawa County will be receiving a limited number of the new Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 very soon, said Health Commissioner Jerry Bingham, now that it has been approved.

“Moderna will be shipping vaccines this week and we are excited to hear this news,” said Bingham. “While we do not know how many vaccine doses we will receive, we do know that it will be limited at the beginning.

“We will have to prioritize health care workers and first responders in the first series of doses as guided by the Ohio Department of Health. As soon as we can move on to the vulnerable population, we will be sure to publicize this information.”

The Moderna vaccine has benefits over the Pfizer vaccine, which is already being shipped around the country.

“Moderna’s vaccine can be shipped and stored at standard freezer temperatures and is packed in containers of 100 doses each,” said General Gustave Perna, the head of the federal government’s Operation Warp Speed. “This allows jurisdictions the flexibility to reach hard to reach and smaller rural areas.”

Both vaccines require two injections about three to four weeks apart, but the Pfizer vaccine must be kept at a frigid -80 degrees to remain viable. Physician-in-Chief Dr. Robert Salata of University Hospitals in Cleveland called the Moderna vaccine a “light at the end of the tunnel.” He expects to receive the Moderna vaccine this week and begin vaccinations of their health care workers.