PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday revealed a major vaccine allocation error that could affect more than 100,000 vaccination appointments. The error only affects the Modern vaccine.
The health department says some providers mixed 200,000 first and second doses. Now the state is trying to find a replacement vaccine and reschedule the appointments.
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“We’re not here to blame ourselves anywhere,” Pennsylvania Health Secretary Alison Beam said.
The acting health secretary declined to name the vaccine providers who made the mistake, but called it a perfect storm that led to the misappropriation of 200,000 doses of Modern vaccine.
“We found that some suppliers were unknowingly using the Modern vaccine that was sent to them for second doses, as first doses,” Beam said.
They are now striving to get additional vaccines and use excess inventory, with the first priority between 30,000 and 60,000 people scheduled to receive a second dose of Moderna.
It is supposed to happen in 28 days, but can be extended up to 42 days.
“By extending the time between doses while staying within CDC guidelines, we can minimize any interruption of first-dose vaccines,” Beam said.
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Unnamed providers, which include a growing number of pharmacies that made the mistake, will reschedule.
“I can assure you, with 100% certainty, that our team has been meticulous in keeping the first and second doses separate,” said Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.
Although Montgomery County did not miss the doses, Arkoosh says they will have to juggle appointments because of the assignment error.
“I was shocked, furious and disappointed,” she said.
State officials blame the limited vaccine, but the acting health secretary admitted that there is a lack of oversight of providers.
“Communications will also be improved along our way forward to allow us to prevent it from moving forward,” Beam said.
Many have criticized the state for not having a centralized vaccine system and distribution is basically left to suppliers.
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Montgomery County says it will close or change the hours of its mass vaccination clinics due to weather and allocation error.