Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
NYC, San Francisco, Other Cities On Verge Of Running Out Of Vaccines
The Hill: De Blasio: New York City Will Run Out Of COVID-19 Vaccine This Week Without Resupply
New York City is going to run out of coronavirus vaccine doses this week and will have to cancel appointments unless they receive more, Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) said Tuesday. The city is aiming to vaccinate 300,000 people this week, but only has 92,000 doses on hand. More than 450,000 doses have been administered to date. (Weixel, 1/19)
Los Angeles Times: San Francisco Will Run Out Of COVID-19 Vaccine Thursday, Officials Say
San Francisco’s public health department will run out of COVID-19 vaccine Thursday because the city’s allocation dropped substantially from a week ago and doses that had to be discarded were not replaced, city officials said Tuesday. Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of public health, said at a news conference that the city received 12,000 doses a week ago and asked for the same number this week. Instead, the city received only 1,775 doses. On top of that, the city received 8,000 doses of a Moderna vaccine that had to be scrapped because some people in San Diego had allergic reactions to doses from that same batch, prompting the state to issue a warning. Colfax said those 8,000 doses, ordered withdrawn by the state, have not been replaced. (Dolan, 1/19)
The Oklahoman: Supply Limiting Number Of Local COVID Vaccinations
Thousands more residents could be getting COVID-19 shots if public health officials' requests for vaccine were being met, the chief operating officer of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department said Tuesday. Phil Maytubby gave a pandemic update at City Hall before the Oklahoma City Council voted to extend the city's mask mandate through March 5, the fourth extension since it was first adopted July 17. Maytubby said the Health Department could "distribute four to five times the vaccine available now." The agency sought 25,000 doses last week and received only 6,000, he said. Hopes are for improvement next week. (Crum, 1/20)
CNN: US Coronavirus: Officials Call For More Vaccine Doses As The US Death Toll Passes 400,000
A funeral bell tolled at the Washington National Cathedral 400 times Tuesday, once for every thousand Americans who have died of Covid-19 in the United States. As the numbers climb, health experts and officials have turned their attention to mitigating the impacts of the new variant that has sparked alarm, and they are calling for ramped up vaccinations and preventative measures. (Holcombe, 1/20)
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The Washington Post: Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout Prompts Maryland Senate To Delay Hearing For Health Secretary Nominee
Growing demand for the coronavirus vaccine amid complaints over distribution is sparking friction among local leaders and forcing some jurisdictions in the Washington region to pause appointments. Maryland’s Senate president said the health secretary nominee of Gov. Larry Hogan (R) will not receive a confirmation hearing until the state shows more progress on the rollout of the vaccine. Sen. Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said state lawmakers are fielding calls from constituents about when and where they can be vaccinated, causing “unacceptable levels of confusion.” (Wiggins, Tan and Chason, 1/19)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgians Fear Debacle When 2nd Vaccine Shots Come Due
Seniors lucky enough to get first doses of a coronavirus vaccine say they’re facing a nightmare trying to book appointments for the required booster shots. Even if they get appointments, it’s not clear if Georgia will have enough doses on hand to administer second shots while still meeting the overwhelming demand for first shots. Last week the Trump administration acknowledged that a stockpile that was promised weeks ago to ensure patients could complete their two-dose regimens didn’t exist. Meanwhile, the state is plowing ahead with putting as many shots into as many arms as possible, counting on more shipments in the coming weeks after President-elect Joe Biden takes office. On Tuesday the head of the Georgia Department of Public Health reiterated the use-’em-up policy, saying local health departments have been told not to hold any doses back. (Edwards, Schrade and Stirgus, 1/19)
