FOX 35 INVESTIGATES: Thousands of wasted vaccines reported in Florida
FOX 35 investigates wasted COVID-19 vaccines
The coronavirus vaccine is already in short supply, so when reports surfaced that some doses were lost or wasted in Florida, we wanted to take a closer look.
ORLANDO, Fla. - More than 3,500 COVID-19 vaccine doses have gone to waste in Florida, according to officials.
The state said that includes vials that were broken and vials that were thawed but could not be used in the timeframe before they expired. The Pfizer vaccine is only good for six hours, while Moderna is good for eight hours.
‘I wanted to help science:’ COVID-19 vaccine trial participants learn if they got the shot or placebo
Accel Clinical Research looking for more participants
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DeLAND, Fla. – More than 1.2 million people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health, and getting to this point would not have been possible without the Americans who volunteered for vaccine trials, including studies happening in Central Florida.
Kathleen Arthur signed up for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial at Accel Clinical Research in August.
“I wasn’t worried. I just wanted to help science,” Arthur said. “If it helps people and it doesn’t kill me, then I’m in for it.”
FOX 35 EXCLUSIVE: Pfizer to prioritize trial participants for COVID vaccine
Pfizer offering COVID vaccine to trial volunteers
A clinic in DeLand ran duel COVID-19 trials for both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Pfizer on Wednesday announced it will give the vaccine to trial participants who received a placebo during the trial.
DELAND, Fla. - Central Floridians who participated in the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine trials and received the non-active placebo solution will be moved up the list to get the real deal.
“We should make sure that we take care of those people that were courageous and came in, upfront, early July, August and got on the trial,” said Dr. Bruce Rankin, Medical Director at Accel Clinical Research in DeLand.