Once there is a COVID-19 vaccine, the state will prioritize making sure there is equitable access, Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said Wednesday.
Dr. Khaldun said typically, vaccines take 10 to 15 years to develop and approve. Currently, more than 135 potential COVID-19 vaccines are being studied; eight are in large-scale phase 3 trials already.
She said she is hopeful that a COVID-19 vaccine will be approved and available to distribute by early 2021.
"It's important to note that creating this vaccine is half the battle," she said. "The other half is getting it to the public in an efficient and timely manner."
Dr. Khaldun said that the vaccine will most likely be distributed in a tiered approach, focusing on those who are most vulnerable.
She said the state is going to eliminate as many barriers as possible.
