Oklahoma heads into next step of COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) —  Oklahoma is heading into its next step of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout ahead of schedule, with the move possibly being made by increasing vaccine supplies and the first shipment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Deputy Health Commissioner Keith Reed said the health department expects the second delivery of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by the end of the month.

“We anticipate somewhere around the 22nd or 23rd,” he said.

Reed called it unfortunate, but he said the state is seeing continuous increases in the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, offsetting the gap between the Johnson & Johnson shipments.

“Once we get toward the end of the month and we start on that regular cadence of Johnson & Johnson coming in, that’s going to be a welcome bump,” he said.

Exactly how many vaccines are coming to Oklahoma is unknown at this time. Reed, however, said the health department will get that information after the delivery is sent out.

“We’ll be informed of how much Johnson & Johnson is coming in the following week,” Reed said.

The state plans to open eligibility to the final groups in phase 2 on Monday. That includes people in congregate locations – meaning inmates and staff members at jails and in prisons, and places like homeless shelters – people who work in critical manufacturing where social distancing isn’t possible, front-line public health staff, elected officials and leaders at all levels of government.