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BOSTON (WHDH) – More than 1,200 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were wasted in Massachusetts on Friday.
State officials say 1,096 doses of Moderna vaccine and 176 doses of Pfizer vaccine were wasted, for a total of 1,272.
Of the 960,100 doses shipped to date, officials say this represents a vaccine wastage percentage of 0.13.
“Any vaccine that goes missing is a missed opportunity,” Gov. Charlie Baker said. “A huge loss.”
In Somerville, a doctor’s office takes steps to prevent his injections from going bad.
Dr Deborah Bershel, who works at Davis Square Family Practice, said she had 100 doses to hand out one day, but when her office started calling patients 75 and older, they were surprised by the response.
“About 50 percent of our patients aged 75 and over already had a vaccine and one of them reported receiving three offers for a vaccine,” Bershel said.
The problem is that once the Moderna vials are opened they have to enter the arms within 6 hours or they are thrown away.
So to make sure there are no leftovers at Somerville’s practice, Bershel said his staff have started offering vaccines to patients in phase 2.
“Someone who is 64 years old, has diabetes and heart disease is ineligible compared to someone 75 years old who takes refuge at home… it’s ridiculous,” she said.
The state that says this action plan is OK. If the vaccine expires, healthcare professionals are allowed to administer the vaccine to someone in another priority group.
“It’s like a war,” Bershel said. “We need to get people vaccinated as quickly as possible.”
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