Confusion and Finger Pointing Hits Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout, Impacting RI
Friday, December 18, 2020
Just one week after Pfizer was granted emergency use authorization for its coronavirus vaccine, its rollout is now the subject of criticism and scrutiny.
On Thursday, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said that the state was informed it would not be getting what it was told it would be receiving for week two — instead of 10,725 doses of the vaccine, Rhode Island will now be getting 6,825 doses.
Raimondo said there was “no clear explanation” for the reduction in vaccine doses.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOn Thursday, Pfizer said none of its coronavirus vaccine shipments are delayed or on hold, and there are no problems with its production, according to The Hill.
In a statement, the drugmaker said that this week it "successfully shipped all 2.9 million doses that we were asked to ship by the U.S. Government to the locations specified by them."
In addition, Pfizer said "we have millions more doses sitting in our warehouse but, as of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses."
Pfizer's statements came after the Trump administration blamed the drug manufacturer for the distribution problems.
"Pfizer's statement comes after Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar told reporters Wednesday the company had experienced 'manufacturing challenges,' and the administration was working to get more visibility into Pfizer's manufacturing processes," according to The Hill.
"Azar said that because Pfizer did not accept federal funding from Operation Warp Speed to help with the manufacturing and development of its vaccine, the government doesn't have as much information about the company's manufacturing capabilities and supply issues," The Hill reported.
“Snags” First Flagged Midweek
As Bloomberg reported, the first “hiccups” in the distribution of the vaccine emerged on Wednesday, “including a holdup in delivering 3,900 shots to two states and the announcement that Pfizer would deliver about 900,000 fewer doses next week than are set to ship this week.”
The holdups this week were in California and Alabama due to storage issues.
“U.S. officials also said at the briefing that about 2 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be allocated for the country next week, fewer than the 2.9 million available this week when the first shots shipped,” reported Bloomberg. “They offered no explanation.”
In Rhode Island, officials announced on Monday that hospitals began receiving shipments of the vaccine, with frontline healthcare workers being the first to receive it.
“Two doses will be needed for someone to be fully immunized. Second doses will start arriving in Rhode Island in roughly three weeks. Rhode Island expects to receive approximately 10,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine the first week it is available,” said the Rhode Island Department of Health.
It is unclear how the delay of doses in the second shipment will impact Rhode Island’s vaccination plan.
The state has said it “expects’ approximately 19,000 doses of Moderna vaccine the first week it is available, as an FDA panel has endorsed the Moderna version and the FDA is slated to approve this week.
Raimondo and Dr. Philip Chan will provide a detailed vaccine update at Friday’s 1 pm press briefing.
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