OU Health Experts Optimistic About COVID-19 Vaccine

Medical experts with OU Health said they're optimistic about the 1st shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The OSDH said some Oklahomans will likely start getting a vaccine by this time next week.

OU Health's Chief of Infectious Disease Doug Drevets said he's hopeful that because of vaccines, people might not need to wear masks for much longer.

He said there are three big factors for that: the vaccine roll-out, normal immunity and the changing of seasons.

Drevets believes Oklahoma could have a low enough number of new infections by next summer, that masks in public would not be as necessary.

They said right now they still agree with mask ordinances because people who have COVID-19 but don't show symptoms can still spread the virus.

Both Drevets, and OU Health's Chief COVID officer Dr. Dale Bratzler said they'll get the vaccine when it's available because they said the science shows both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe and effective.

"Is 95% efficacy for a vaccine, is that good, is that average, or just mediocre? It is really good. There are only a handful of vaccines that are better than that" Drevets said.

As we've been reporting, the state is following a phased approach to distributing it, with frontline healthcare workers and long-term care staff and residents getting it first.

State leaders said the general public will likely have access to the vaccine early into the new year.