“As the Department of Health continues to review and improve the complex processes needed to get manufacturers’ COVID-19 vaccine into the arms of Pennsylvania as soon as possible, we found that some providers inadvertently administered the Modern vaccine that is “I was sending them for the second dose as first doses,” said Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam. “We are taking immediate action to resolve the situation and we are committed to ensuring that dose-by-dose delivery is available.”
It is possible that between 30,000 and 60,000 first doses will not be delivered on time to suppliers and that 30,000 to 60,000 second inquiries may have to be delayed for at least two weeks, officials said.
To solve the problem, the Department of Health weighed several options, including suspending the first doses and instead of using them for the second doses already scheduled. However, they chose another option that they believe will have less impact, specifically because many have trouble signing up for a first date.
“After careful review and discussion with lawmakers on Governor Tom Wolf’s joint COVID-19 vaccine working group, we have a clear way forward that may include adjusting the second dose administration time. following CDC guidelines that set the minimum time between doses at 21 and 28 days and the maximum time at 42 days, ”Beam said.
In an afternoon press call, Pennsylvania Department of Health COVID press secretary Barry Ciccocioppo said it was last weekend that the Department of Health discovered they were short of supply. Unidentified vendors have been making the mistake since January. He explained that some providers may not be affected because they may have enough doses on hand.
For weeks, health officials have been telling providers not to withhold second-dose administration by assuring providers that there will be a second dose of a separate supply.
Vaccine providers receive two separate doses of two-shot Modern vaccine shipments after placing an order with the Department of Health. Suppliers receive doses directly from manufacturers. The Department of Health did not realize that first dose shipments and second dose shipments were not clearly marked. As a result, many vendors did not distinguish the difference.
The Department of Health has a list of affected providers in its system and is in the process of examining it.
Suppliers are expected to contact people scheduled for their second dose if they lack supply.
“The department works directly with vaccine suppliers throughout this process and, in line with the vaccine order I signed last week, you will be able to provide more accurate information on vaccine allocation each week to increase transparency and predictability with the first doses, ”Beam said. .
This week Pennsylvania has received 200,000 requests from Modern by dose, which is almost the amount of the weekly allocation of the first and second dose supply state of Modern. There is no medical difference between the first and second dose.
Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said Wednesday that this will affect the county. At least one vaccine site is closed in part due to shortages.
He added that his office did everything properly.
“I can assure you with 100% certainty that our team has been meticulous in keeping the first and second doses separate,” Arkoosh said. “The second doses have been given properly, but I can’t speak for any other provider in the county.”
To date, Pennsylvania has vaccinated 1.7 million people with half a million receiving both doses.
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