The first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Imperial County.

The shipment contains 974 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and will be allocated to high-risk workers in the healthcare systems of the Valley. Of the initial shipment 475 doses will be allocated to El Centro Regional Medical Center , 330 to Pioneers Memorial Hospital and the remainder will be used for local Emergency Medical Technicians , paramedics and public health vaccinators. California officials say that they do not expect the vaccine will be available to the general public until Spring of 2021. The Imperial County Public Health Department is continuing to coordinate with local healthcare providers and other local partners for future phases of distribution.