Beaumont Health System in Michigan is canceling nearly 2,000 COVID-19 vaccinations for the second dose due to an unexpected shortage.
The health system said in a statement on Monday it learned of an “unexpected and significant reduction in the State of Michigan’s Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine allocation,” forcing it to cancel 1,884 second-dose appointments scheduled for Thursday.
Beaumont said in its statement that it is willing to administer 50,000 doses per week, but can instead deliver only 2,200, which is all the state has delivered in its recent allotment.
The health system said it has administered more than 100,000 doses since the vaccine became available two months ago.
“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 and get the second-dose vaccine we requested, ”said Carolyn Wilson, Beaumont Health’s chief operating officer in a statement. “We remain committed to vaccinating patients as soon as possible once we receive our assigned doses of vaccine.”
Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement to The Hill that “the state has been working with Beaumont Health over the past week to resolve the second dose shortage. It’s a shame they chose to cancel second-dose appointments while we continued to work with them on this issue. ”
Pfizer’s vaccine is intended to be taken in two doses three weeks apart, while Moderna’s is intended to be given in two doses four weeks apart. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the second dose of either vaccine can be administered up to six weeks after the first.