A mid-morning news conference Tuesday revealed UPMC leaders are preparing to receive two types of vaccines moving into the new year.

At this point in time, they're slated to be distributed first to health care professionals.

“We have prepared for decades to provide essential, life-serving care for our communities under any circumstances,” said Leslie Davis, senior vice president of UPMC. “Now, we are able to use those skills.”

Dr. Graham Snyder, medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at UPMC, said the UPMC system is preparing to receive “thousands to tens of thousands” of vaccine doses.

Hospitals and skilled nursing facilities are set to receive Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, respectively, both of which are two-part inoculations.

The Pfizer vaccine is expected to arrive first, although a formal time line hasn't been established.

“We are optimistic we will be able to provide vaccines to our front-line workers who wish to receive it before the end of January,” Snyder said.

Snyder said while it's important to keep health professionals safe, UPMC workers will not be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Snyder also said the first rounds of vaccinations will not be available to the public.

Dr. Donald Yealy, UPMC senior medical director, recognized that it could be many months before everyone who wants a vaccine can get one.

“We recognize that many will decline this opportunity,” Yealy said.

Before any vaccines are issued to employees, UPMC will wait for FDA reviews and Emergency Use Authorization.

“Speed is important,” Snyder said. “But so is safety.”

UPMC continues working on antibody therapeutics in the meantime, according to Yealy. Clinical trials are expected to begin soon.

The system was also recently allocated antibody treatments via the companies Regeneron and Eli Lilly. These therapeutics are being distributed to certain COVID-19 patients.

UPMC officials encouraged people Tuesday to take care of their general health. Preventive care benefits overall well-being, Yealy stressed.

“We have no need to delay or change planned procedures,” Davis said. “We are sure we can take care of all of the COVID and all of the non-COVID patients in our communities.”

UPMC mitigation efforts have included providing additional staffing, hours and beds, according to Davis. Ambulatory telemedicine appointments are also being utilized more regularly.

Additionally, UPMC has shortened employee quarantine periods per CDC guidelines from 14 to 10 days. Davis said the system is hoping to soon reduce quarantine even further to seven days.

“We've gotten smarter about caring for COVID-19 patients,” Davis said.

UPMC officials continue to encourage people to wear masks, social distance and wash hands regularly.

Yealy said limiting gatherings is particularly important during the holiday season.

“This is a critical time,” Yealy said. “We need to do it.”