Beaumont Health cancels 1,884 appointments for a second dose of vaccine due to an unexpectedly low supply

DETROIT – Due to an unexpected supply shortage, Beaumont Health is canceling 1,884 second-dose appointments scheduled for Thursday, February 18.

According to Beaumont Health, it was notified Friday of the significant reduction in the state of Michigan’s Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine allocation.

“The health system is working to automatically reschedule all canceled appointments to a week later at the same time and on the same day of the week, as long as the state supplies enough vaccine. Beaumont is also seeking more clarity from the state on these much needed second doses, ”said a statement from Beaumont Health.

Related: 6 Ways Michigan Residents Can Sign Up for the COVID-19 Vaccine

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.

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While three weeks is the typical amount of time between two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the vaccine will remain effective when patients receive the second dose up to six weeks after the first dose, ”the statement continued.

The health system will no longer be able to arrange Pfizer vaccinations for the first dose at the Beaumont Service Center until the supplemental vaccine is received.

According to Beaumont, it’s ready to deliver 50,000 doses per week, but only 2,200 this week that’s delivered the entire state in its recent assignment.

The health system has administered more than 100,000 doses since the vaccine became available two months ago, it said.

“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 of vaccine we requested, ”said Carolyn Wilson, Beaumont Health’s Chief Operating Officer. “We remain committed to vaccinating patients as soon as possible once we receive our assigned doses of vaccine.”

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Patients scheduled to receive their first dose of the Moderna vaccine in Dearborn are not affected.