Speaking to Ted Oberg of ABC13, Dr. Esmaeil Porsa said: “This is no way to plan. It is not a way to run a business, much less a health business. But unfortunately, this is a situation you are in. coping. “
Porsa said he has no idea when the state will ship more and only finds out when he receives a tracking number that a new shipment is on the way. Late Thursday afternoon, there was no such notification.
WATCH: Harris Health System CEO says vaccine delivery has been ‘erratic’
“We are serving a segment of this population that has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 from the beginning. This has been happening throughout the pandemic. It is true today. These are the same patients who now will not be among the first to be vaccinated because I do not have access to the vaccine … They have no other option. That is why we exist, our mission is to take care of those who do not have this community. other options. We are the only option. “
READ MORE: LBJ and Ben Taub make adjustments to the team to handle the peak of COVID-19
Harris Health vaccinated about 9,000 patients in Group 1B. None of them received a second dose and Harris Health does not have its second doses on hand. They say they are sure they will be sent.
Porsa said patients whose appointments are being canceled will be contacted by Harris Health.
ABC13 asked the Houston Health Authority, Dr. David Persse, about the Harris Health System’s lack of supply and said that this is partly due to vaccine manufacturers.
“It looks like it’s really the manufacturer’s limit,” explained Persse. “Moderna and Pfizer are increasing production, so it will take a while. I don’t know exactly when. I am told that it is six to eight weeks, perhaps, that the number of vaccines available in the United States is a whole and therefore, each individual state will increase. “
The Texas Department of Health Services has told 13 Investigates in the past that supply problems are affecting the distribution of vaccines across the state. We’re calling to talk about this issue on Thursday afternoon and will update when we have more information.
Follow Ted Oberg on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Copyright © 2021 KTRK-TV. All rights reserved.