Dec. 21. Atrium Health has received the first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, with Atrium Health Stanly, Atrium Health Kings Mountain and Atrium Health Anson set to administer the first of two doses.

The main difference in the Moderna vaccine vs. the Pfizer vaccine is that the former is able to be kept in a standard freezer between 13 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, making it an ideal vaccine to use at healthcare facilities without access to an ultra-cold freezer.

Once removed from the freezer, the vaccine is viable for 30 days.

The Moderna vaccine, which is 94.1 percent effective, may cause soreness at the injection site similar to the side effects from Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Atrium Health received 1,000 vials, which contain approximately 10 doses per vial.

Two doses, like Pfizer

The Moderna vaccine is given in two doses, separated by 28 days.

The emergence of a second vaccine also means the general public may get vaccinated sooner.

General public in the spring

Current projections indicate those vaccinations will begin taking place in Spring of 2021. Atrium Health is also scheduled to participate in a clinical trial with a third possible vaccine candidate, with those trials beginning in late December.

Atrium Health, which received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 14, has been able to vaccinate more than 1,500 teammates with their initial dose. Additionally, more than 5,300 are scheduled for their first vaccine and more than 5,300 scheduled for their second vaccine dose.