Although federal approval has not yet been given to the vaccine for COVID-19 produced by Pfizer, Governor Jim Justice is anticipating it to be the case. During today’s COVID-19 press conference, Justice said the initial doses of vaccine will be coming to West Virginia in weeks.

 

“The first batch will be coming from Pfizer and should arrive in West Virginia between the 10^th and 12th of December,” said Justice. “… The very second I can get the vaccine I’ll be taking it, as well as my family.”

 

Justice said biotech company Moderna’s vaccine will “come out shortly after” Pfizer’s vaccine. He said with both vaccines it will require two shots that will be taken weeks apart as opposed to days apart.

 

Justice said retiring National Guard Major General James Hoyer will be heading up the distribution of the vaccine in the state when it becomes available. He said the National Guard was “ready to go.”

 

Hoyer said later in the press conference that an advisory council put together by the DHHR and other agencies has helped prepare the state for distribution. He said the vaccine will arrive “in small chunks.” The focus will be mitigating fatalities, zoning in on nursing home facilities and the acute care system professionals.

 

“We’ll be rolling out more information as we go forward,” said Hoyer, who added that the Pfizer vaccine is a difficult one to administer for factors such as storing at an extremely low temperature, among others.

 

As for the cost of the vaccine, Justice said he didn't expect it to cost "a dime." He said he expected the federal government to pick up the cost of the vaccine.

 

The governor reiterated that the safest place for children during the pandemic is in our schools. He said that after announcing there are currently 24 outbreaks in the state’s public school system with 106 confirmed cases.

 

“I don’t know if there’s a place much safer than our schools. We must try with all in us to keep our kids in schools,” said Justice.

 

Justice went on to say it is critical to try and keep kids going to school if possible.

 

“To have our kids do virtual learning and that’s it at the end of the day there are kids that their parents aren’t just there to be able to help them every minute of every day … Some families can pull it off. Overwhelmingly, we’re failing with virtual learning all across this country,” said Justice.

 

As for other outbreaks, Justice said there are currently 101 outbreaks in the state’s long-term care facilities. He said there are now 22 outbreaks in 16 counties in churches, which now includes Harrison, Marion, and Taylor Counties in North Central West Virginia.

 

The massive outbreak at Stephens Correctional Facility in McDowell County is heading in the right direction. Justice said there are now just eight active cases and five staff members positive. Statewide, the rest of the prison system has 48 inmates and 39 staff members positive. Of those numbers, 13 of the cases are at Pruntytown in Taylor County.

 

Those cases are part of 14,283 active cases, a record-high, in the state. There are also 28,072 recoveries from the virus.

 

“We have a record high of 510 patients in our hospitals right now with 144 in ICU units,” said Justice.

 

Another number also remains high, and that is on the testing front. Justice said 15,518 individuals were tested on Tuesday. The testing has helped show a re-transmission rate, or Rt number, of 1.04. Justice said that is the 19^th best rate in the country, but the numbers are still rising across the board.

 

With the numbers rising, Justice said there are not a whole lot of options. He said the options are to test more, wear a mask or shut down businesses. The governor said he does not favor whole shutting down of businesses. He continued to emphasize mask wearing throughout the press conference.

 

“What’s the downside? If it didn’t work on the planet, what’s the problem,” the governor questioned about people not wearing masks.

 

Justice started his pre-Thanksgiving press conference announcing the latest deaths since his COVID-19 briefing Monday. The state now has 695 COVID-related deaths, including 28 additional deaths since Monday.

 

The deaths include a 94-year old male from Wayne County, a 78-year old female from Cabell County, a 70-year old male from Fayette County, an 80-year old male from Mineral County, a 74-year old female from Marshall County, a 90-year old female from Mineral County, a 35-year old female from Ohio County, an 84-year old female from Marion County, an 87-year old female from Wood County, a 92-year old female from Ritchie County, a 79-year old male from Wood County, a 70-year old female from Kanawha County, an 81-year old male from Kanawha County, a 70-year old male from Mineral County, a 83-year old male from Mingo County, a 84-year old female from Cabell County, a 97-year old female from Mineral County, a 73-year old male from Mineral County, an 84-year old female from Harrison County, an 80-year old female from Mineral County, a 68-year old male from Marshall County, a 76-year old male from Marshall County, a 95-year old male from Marshall County, an 86-year old female from Marshall County, an 83-year old male from Marshall County, a 94-year old female from Marshall County, a 93-year old female from Marshall County, and an 80-year old male from Cabell County.

 

“Unfortunately, some don’t take this seriously,” said Justice prior to reading off the list of those who have died.

Information on free testing can be be found HERE

 

Video of Wednesday's press conference can be viewed below.