States, counties and cities say they are running out of coronavirus vaccines, leading to cancellations or postponing consultations for thousands of people, even as the country tries to speed up the pace of vaccinations.
Health officials are desperate for clarity from the federal government about vaccine shipments, saying they need accurate numbers to plan weeks in advance.
Instead, the numbers arrive in just a week at a time and are not consistent.
The Biden government has pledged to work with states to improve communication, but for now, it is struggling to find out how much vaccine is available.
“Allocation and supply are critical areas where we unfortunately didn’t have a lot of visibility”, Jeff Zients
Jeff ZientsBiden under pressure to deliver more injections COVID-19 Fauci: We are not ‘starting from scratch’ in vaccine delivery. These are the executive orders that Biden signed in the first three days of his term. MORE, President Biden’s COVID-19 coordinator, told reporters.
“We will work to provide projections on the offer. We have repeatedly heard from local governors and leaders that they simply do not know what the offer is coming and cannot plan. Our arms around what is happening, make sure we are communicating with the states and locations so they can prepare effectively, “added Zients.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, states administered only 47% of the nearly 40 million doses administered. But experts say that these figures do not portray a complete picture and do not necessarily mean that the vaccines are left unused.
“I know there is a perception that the vaccine did not come out fast enough,” but that is not the case, said Mississippi state health officer Thomas Dobbs.
Speaking on a podcast with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers, Dobbs said Mississippi will run out of doses soon.
“Most of the doses that we gave health systems to distribute, and they are really starting to produce. I think we will run out of vaccine soon and there will be people who will say, ‘Now it’s my turn. Why can’t I get up on the table? ‘”Said Dobbs.
Health experts and federal officials said for months that the initial COVID-19 vaccines would be scarce.
In the first two weeks after vaccines gained emergency clearance, states were having difficulty administering them quickly enough. Now, the demand is greater, the states have simplified their administration systems and the supply cannot keep up.
“States have made adjustments. They are opening [eligibility] for more people. But, you know, your allocation isn’t increasing, so that’s why you’re seeing states clamoring for more doses, “said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers.
The number of vaccine doses sent has not changed much since the end of December. In the last days of the Trump administration, however, officials recommended that states open eligibility to anyone over 65, as well as people under 65 with a pre-existing condition.
These measures put even more pressure on states’ already limited supplies.
States also thought they would receive double the number of new doses this week, after Trump health officials said they would no longer insure the booster doses.
But it ended up not being the case, as the government no longer had stocks.
Meanwhile, demand has far exceeded supply in some areas. This week, New York City had to reschedule 23,000 appointments after running out of the city’s stock for the first few doses.
mayor Bill de Blasio
Bill de BlasioFauci said that the second injection of the COVID-19 vaccine knocked him out for 24 hours. Ohio vaccine distributor suspended after improper storage, spoiling 890 doses. Overnight Health Care: Biden signs first executive actions as President Amazon offers to help Biden distribute vaccines | Pence hands Biden MORE coronavirus task force report (D) sent a letter to the Biden government on Friday asking for flexibility to use its second dose supply to “fill the gap for a time of higher production” and maximize the number of first doses administered.
In San Francisco, city officials were concerned about running out of supply, but had a last-minute suspension when the state allowed them to resume use of a Modern vaccine batch that had been withdrawn from use due to possible safety concerns.
Still, health officials say they need more information from the federal government.
“The unpredictable and erratic flow of vaccine in San Francisco makes it impossible for health providers in the city or [Department of Public Health] to plan properly, “the city’s COVID Command Center said in a statement to The Hill.
The Biden administration has been praised for being more open about challenges in fighting coronavirus, but officials have not explained how they can increase the vaccine’s supply.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiBiden under pressure to deliver more doses of COVID-19 Biden, Trudeau agrees to meet next month, Democrats seek answers about the impact of the Russian cyber attack on the Justice Department, Courts MORE he said on Thursday that involvement with state and local authorities will be a priority, but gave no example of guidance in the future.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo Three national guards killed after a military helicopter crash in New York New York City reschedules 23,000 vaccination visits due to supply problems. Pence delivers report of coronavirus task force to Biden MORE (D) said recently that the National Association of Governors will hold weekly meetings with Zients. They are still working on the schedule.