Texas picked for Pfizer vaccine delivery program

The Pfizer vaccine is officially coming to Texas—and soon—as part of a pilot delivery program by the pharmaceutical company.

Texas will receive the vaccine alongside three other states—New Mexico, Rhode Island and Tennessee—all chosen for their size, population diversity, immunization structure and need to reach people in both urban and rural communities, reports Reuters.

The vaccine has demonstrated 90% efficacy in early trials and must be kept and shipped in freezing conditions, -94° Fahrenheit, something the company seeks to address that could cause challenges in distribution and storage.

However, the four states picked for the trial will not receive doses before the rest of the states and will not receive preferential treatment.

"We are hopeful that results from this vaccine delivery pilot will serve as the model for other U.S. states and international governments, as they prepare to implement effective COVID-19 vaccine programs," Pfizer said in a statement on Monday.

In a $1.95 billion deal with the U.S. government, Pfizer will supply 100 million doses of the vaccine to the country with the option to request an additional 500 million doses.

Moderna also recently revealed its vaccine is 94.5% effective and is testing over 400 Austinites as part of its trial. Moderna is expected to put in the emergency use FDA application within the next few weeks.

Both vaccines are well over the 50% efficacy requirement instituted by the U.S. government.

As of right now, it is still unknown whether or not it is possible to still spread the virus even after being vaccinated. It is also unknown whether or not patients will require a booster shot.