(WXYZ) – Due to an unexpected shortage of a second dose of vaccine, Beaumont Health is canceling 1,884 appointments.
On Friday, Beaumont learned of an unexpected cut in Michigan’s Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine allocation, forcing the health system to cancel second dose appointments scheduled for Thursday.
The health system says it is working to automatically reschedule all canceled appointments to a week later at the same time and on the same day of the week.
Beaumont says it is seeking more clarity from the state on these second doses.
While three weeks is the typical amount of time between two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the vaccine remains effective when patients receive the second dose up to six weeks after the first dose.
Most patients will receive an email if their appointment is canceled, but Beaumont will also try to contact other patients without an email address by phone.
In addition, the health system will not be able to open Pfizer appointments for a first dose of vaccine at the Beaumont Service Center until a supplemental vaccine is received. Beaumont is ready to administer 50,000 doses per week, but only 2,200 will be able to be done this week, which is the state provided in its recent allotment, the health system said.
Beaumont says it is working diligently to get more vaccine from the state to provide the required second dose in a timely manner.
“We are so disappointed that we had to cancel these appointments. Our teams worked with the state around the clock and all weekend to try to get the second-dose vaccine we requested, ”said Carolyn Wilson, Beaumont Health’s Chief Operating Officer in a press release. “We remain committed to vaccinating patients as soon as possible once we receive our assigned doses of vaccine.”
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