Feds tell Delaware and other states that Covid vaccine doses in coming weeks will be fewer than expected

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Delaware, like other states,  is expected to see a lower than expected number of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine doses.

The Delaware Division of Public Health said the state did receive the promised  8,775 doses of Pfizer vaccine in Delaware this week. 

However, DPH was notified by the federal government that the initial estimated Pfizer allotment for the weeks ahead would be lower than originally estimated.

DPH is currently reviewing the new estimated allotment figures to determine the allocation to enrolled providers.

“It should be noted though that DPH has considered the allotment estimates to be preliminary and subject to change,”  according to a department statement.

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The DPH, which coordinates the state’s vaccine distribution efforts, expects to receive an additional 2,925 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine next week, with additional supply being set aside through the federal long-term care/pharmacy program partnership.

Confusion over projected allocations of vaccine has been reported, with the federal government saying earlier figures were only estimates and report that Pfizer had production glitches.

For its part, Pfizer has said it has experienced no manufacturing issues and has millions of doses of vaccine in warehouses awaiting instructions from the Feds.

Distribution of the vaccine is a logistical challenge, given issues such as keeping doses in supercold freezers and the extensive use of dry ice in shipments.

Since the first pre-ordered doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine were delivered on Monday, 750 vaccines have been administered to health care staff at the State’s six health systems and three sites of one long-term care organization, DPH reported.

On Thursday, Delaware became one of the nation’s first states to offer vaccines to enrolled long-term health care workers. 

The 750 vaccines administered are current as of Friday at noon,

“Our frontline health care workers continue to lead by example, and I want to thank all of those Delawareans who rolled up their sleeves this week and received the vaccine,” said Gov. John  Carney. “Your hard work and leadership will get us through this crisis. As our health care workers know, we continue to face a winter surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Let’s all do our part and do what works. Wear a mask. Don’t gather with friends or family outside your household. Stay vigilant.”  

DPH also is preparing for the expected U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for Emergency Use Authorization.

Should the request go through,  DPH expects to receive 16,700 doses of the Moderna vaccine within days of the approval, which will go to hospitals, EMS, Health Centers such as La Red Medical Center, Westside Family Health and Henrietta Johnson Medical Center, DPH clinics, and others to continue to vaccinate staff.

DPH has set up a Vaccine Call Center at 302-672-6150. People who are deaf and hard of hearing should call 2-1-1 or text their ZIP code to 898-211. Individuals can email their questions concerning the vaccine to Vaccine@Delaware.gov and visit de.gov/covidvaccine for more information. 

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