Just 0.18% of more than 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine given to Pennsylvania hospitals, pharmacies and other providers through May 21 were discarded.
Allegheny County Health Department spoiled 636 Pfizer doses allocated to county vaccination sites over three separate days April 21, April 24, and May 9 after officials started to thaw vaccines but then experienced a “sudden and unexpected drop in filled appointments,” said a department spokesman.
WHYY
By
Jamie Martines, Spotlight PAMay 25, 2021
Just 0.18% of more than 10 million doses given to hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers through May 21 were discarded (Fred Adams/Spotlight PA)
This story originally appeared on Spotlight PA.
After refusing to release details about wasted coronavirus vaccine, citing a decades-old disease prevention law, the Wolf administration has reversed course and made public how many doses have been discarded by providers and why.
The data shows just 0.18% of more than 10 million doses given to hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers through May 21 were not used.
Of the 18,644 discarded doses, providers reported spoilage as the cause in more than 37% of cases. Spoiled vaccines typically include those that have expired or those that were not stored at the correct temperature due to conditions like equipment failure, state health officials said.
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For most decisions in life, it s smart to be thoughtful clever, even, to sit and stir, mull things over, or really take time to plan and ponder.
But the continuing spread of COVID-19 has put the decision to get vaccinated on a clock, and local and national leaders say it s running out.
This past week President Joe Biden announced his goal to at least partially vaccinate 70% of U.S. adults by July 4. With more than 56% of the population already there, reeling in another 14% over two months seems a simple task. However, a large amount of vaccine hesitation is making things difficult, and Beaver County is at its center.