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HARRISBURG (KDKA) – The state says some COVID-19 vaccine suppliers accidentally gave doses that were supposed to be reserved for second injections.
“In the short term, we are facing demands for a second dose of Moderna vaccine far exceeding the Moderna vaccine assigned to the state this week,” Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said.
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It does not affect the Pfizer vaccine.
Beam said about 200,000 seconds of Moderna doses were requested this week, which is roughly the full state’s Moderna weekly allowance.
She describes it as a “structural problem” that started in early January and “got worse week after week.” Now the state is dealing with it because it has become such a big problem. Beam says the state is working on a plan to move forward and get second doses.
“We are working to fix it this week. Over the next two to three weeks, we’ll have fixed that, ”she said.
She did not say which providers made the mistake.
“First, we explored excess inventory that was not scheduled to be administered this week, and as far as we could, we used it to resolve this issue. Second, one remedy is to adjust the timing of the administration of the second dose of Moderna, ”Beam said.
Beam says all vendors will follow CDC guidelines that the minimum time between first and second hit is 28 days and the maximum is 42.
“By extending the time between doses, while still following CDC guidelines, we can minimize any disruption to first-dose vaccinations,” Beam said. “Our goal remains to get the extremely limited supplies and vaccines as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
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Beam said there were around 30,000 to 60,000 people who will likely have to reschedule their second dates one to two weeks later. For the first appointments, there could be 30,000 to 55,000 doses that providers expected and will not be delivered.
Beam said anyone who gets the wrong dose doesn’t have to start their vaccination process over.
“There is no difference in the drug in the first and second doses,” Beam said.
The secretary said people should get their second shot in the same place as their first shot.
Health officials have continued to stress that supply continues to be the main problem in obtaining gunfire.
Allegheny County Health Director Dr Debra Bogen says he keeps his first dose and second dose separately. As for the other sites, she couldn’t tell.
At this point, Dr Bogen doesn’t have a time when the county sites can expand to all of Phase 1A.
“The last two weeks have focused on people 65 and over. So far, around half of our doses have gone to people 65 and over, ”she said at Wednesday’s press conference.
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The county health department receives about 10% of the county’s vaccines. The majority go to health systems and hospitals.
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