(WXYZ) – Due to an unexpected shortage of the second dose vaccine, Beaumont Health is canceling 1,884 appointments.
On Friday, Beaumont learned of an unexpected reduction in the allocation of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from the state of Michigan, forcing the health care system to cancel the second dose appointments scheduled for Thursday.
The health system says it is working to automatically reschedule all canceled appointments for 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 three weeks is the normal time between the two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the vaccine remains effective when patients receive the second dose up to six weeks after the first.
Most patients will receive an email if the appointment is canceled, but Beaumont will also try to contact other patients without an email address by phone.
In addition, the healthcare system will not be able to open further Pfizer first dose vaccine appointments at the Beaumont Service Center until the additional vaccine is received. Beaumont is prepared to administer 50,000 doses a week, but this week it will only be able to make 2,200, which is everything the state has supplied in its recent allocation, the health system said.
Beaumont says he is working diligently to get more vaccine from the state to provide the required second dose in a timely manner.
“We are very disappointed to have canceled these commitments. Our teams worked 24 hours a day and throughout the weekend with the state to try to secure the second dose of the vaccine we ordered, ”said Carolyn Wilson, Beaumont Health’s chief operating officer, in a press release. “We remain committed to vaccinating patients as soon as possible as soon as we receive our allocated vaccine doses.”
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