Hawaii Island hospitals expect to receive first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine next week

The first shipment of 975 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to the state arrived at 8 a.m. Monday at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. The vaccines were immediately transferred from their thermo-insulated containers containing dry into one of two ultra-cold freezers for storage. (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)

The first shipment of 975 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to the state arrived at 8 a.m. Monday at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)

The first shipment of 975 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to the state arrived at 8 a.m. Monday at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. The vaccines were immediately transferred from their thermo-insulated containers containing dry into one of two ultra-cold freezers for storage. (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)

The first shipment of 975 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to the state arrived at 8 a.m. Monday at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. The vaccines were immediately transferred from their thermo-insulated containers containing dry into one of two ultra-cold freezers for storage. (Courtesy photo/Special to West Hawaii Today)

Kona Community Hospital. (Laura Ruminski/West Hawaii Today file photo)

Hawaii Island hospitals could begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine as early as next week, officials said Monday afternoon, hours after the arrival of the first doses on Oahu.