LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) working toward the approval of the Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, Norton Hospital is finalizing their distribution plans.

Once the shot is authorized by the FDA, the vaccines will be shipped to area hospitals and distribution will begin to those most at risk, starting with health care workers.

Joseph Flynn is the chief administrative officer of Norton Medical Group and is leading the efforts in the vaccination plan.

Flynn said Norton Hospital is earmarked to receive 2,000 doses of the vaccine if it gets regulatory approval.

The hospital system is setting plans in motion in order to vaccinate their staff, and organizers are excited about these next steps.

“This is really an exciting moment from a medical standpoint," Flynn said.

While it’s operationally complex, hospital leaders say they are equipped to house the vaccines in the required subzero temperature.

Medical professionals are now hoping as many people as possible across the commonwealth get the vaccine.

"This is our first step to be able to really thwart what’s going on that we’ve all suffered through for the last 9 or 10 months. And as we can actually vaccinate everybody that will be our chance to then to get back to some sense of normalcy,” Flynn said.

“It’s important that everyone knows that you still need to wear a mask, you still need to do hand hygiene and socially distancing because while you may be immune, it’s those other people. You can still carry the virus and shed the virus, be it over a shorter amount of time encountering other people,” adds Flynn.

The FDA is expected to meet next week to discuss Moderna’s request for emergency authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine.