(WXYZ) – Due to an unexpected shortage of second-dose vaccine, Beaumont Health cancels 1,884 appointments.
On Friday, Beaumont learned of an unexpected reduction in the allocation of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from the state of Michigan, forcing the health care system to cancel appointments for the second dose scheduled for Thursday.
The health care system says it is working to automatically reschedule all canceled appointments a week later, at the same time and on the same day of the week.
Beaumont says he is seeking more clarity from the state about these second doses.
Although the typical time between the two doses of the Pfizer vaccine is three weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the vaccine remains effective when patients receive the second dose up to six weeks after the first dose. .
Most patients will receive an email if the appointment is canceled, but Beaumont will also try to contact other patients without an email address.
In addition, the health system will not be able to open further Pfizer first-dose vaccine appointments at the Beaumont Service Center until an additional vaccine is received. Beaumont is ready to administer 50,000 doses a week, but this week it will only be able to make 2,200, which is the state’s entire supply in its recent allocation, the health care system said.
Beaumont says he is working diligently to get more vaccine from the state to provide the second dose needed in a timely manner.
“We are so disappointed that we had to cancel these appointments. Our teams worked all day and all weekend with the state to try to secure the second-dose vaccine we ordered, “said Carolyn Wilson, director of operations at Beaumont Health, in a statement. “We remain committed to vaccinating patients as soon as possible as soon as we receive the assigned doses of vaccine.”
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