In a statement, a spokesman for the federal Department of Health said nearly 13 million doses had been made available to states so they could order their first and second doses, which is “millions more” than previous weeks. The spokesman, Michael Pratt, also said that many states did not order the full amount allocated by the federal government.
“I think states have done their best to plan with the information they can get from the feds about the expected future allocations, and then review the plans if they get less,” said dr. Marcus Plescia, Chief Medical Officer of the Association of Civil Servants and Territorial Health Officers. “What is more worrying is that the public’s expectations have been raised and that the limited supply could lead to disappointment.”
During the first few weeks of distribution, Genl. Gustave F. Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort to develop and distribute a vaccine to the American public, decides to withhold half of the weekly vaccines after saving the doses for the people who have a got first shot. He said at the time that it was important to be careful as production was underway, and to keep a stock of second doses in case of manufacturing errors.
Even then, his decision was criticized by public health experts who argued that the focus should be on getting as many people as possible their first dose of a vaccine – as clinical trials show that even the first dose provides some protection. offers – as the country faces record cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
But federal officials stuck to their plan, and as the weeks passed, the stock gradually depleted as those who received the first shots from Pfizer needed their second dose, which is given three weeks later. The first people to receive the Moderna vaccine should now receive their boost shot, which is given four weeks later.
Senior officials said Friday that the remaining second doses from the reserve will be distributed to the states this week and next week and that it is never intended to vaccinate additional people.
From now on, officials said Tuesday, every weekly shipment from the manufacturers will include doses for new people, as well as second doses for those who need the booster shots.