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US: Enough Vaccines for Boosters, Kids 09/26 10:39
With more than 40 million doses of coronavirus vaccines available, U.S.
health authorities said they're confident there will be enough for both
qualified older Americans seeking booster shots and the young children for whom
initial vaccines are expected to be approved in the not-too-distant future.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- With more than 40 million doses of coronavirus
vaccines available, U.S. health authorities said they're confident there will
be enough for both qualified older Americans seeking booster shots and the
young children for whom initial vaccines are expected to be approved in the
not-too-distant future.
The spike in demand -- expected following last week's federal recommendation
on booster shots -- would be the first significant jump in months. More than 70
million Americans remain unvaccinated despite the enticement of lottery prizes,
free food or gifts and pleas from exhausted health care workers as the average
number of deaths per day climbed to more than 1,900 in recent weeks.
Federal and state health authorities said current supply and steady
production of more doses can easily accommodate those seeking boosters or
initial vaccination, avoiding a repeat of the frustratingly slow rollout of
COVID-19 vaccines across the country early this year.
"I hope that we have the level of interest in the booster ... that we need
more vaccines," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Tuesday. "That's simply not
where we are today. We have plenty of vaccines."
Robust supply in the U.S enabled President Joe Biden this week to promise an
additional 500 million of Pfizer's COVID-19 shots to share with the world,
doubling the United States' global contribution. Aid groups and health
organizations have pushed the U.S. and other countries to improve vaccine
access in countries where even the most vulnerable people haven't had a shot.
Among the challenges states face is not ordering too many doses and letting
them go to waste. Several states with low vaccination rates, including Idaho
and Kansas, have reported throwing away thousands of expired doses or are
struggling to use vaccines nearing expiration this fall.
While most vaccines can stay on the shelf unopened for months, once a vial
is opened the clock starts ticking. Vaccines are only usable for six to 12
hours, depending on the manufacturer, according to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration.
Moderna vaccines come in vials containing 11 to 15 doses. Pfizer vials
contain up to six doses and Johnson & Johnson vials five doses.
"We are going to see more doses that go unused over time," said Wisconsin's
health secretary, Karen Timberlake. "They come in multidose files. They don't
come in nice, tidy individual single-serving packages."
State health officials said they have tried to request only what health care
providers and pharmacies expect to need from the federal supply. Those numbers
have dwindled since the vaccines became widely available in early spring.
But U.S. officials -- holding out hope that some of the unvaccinated will
change their minds -- are trying to keep enough vaccines in stock so all
Americans can get them.
That balancing act is tricky and can lead to consternation around the globe
as the U.S. sits on unused vaccines while many countries in places such as
Africa can't get enough vaccines.
"Somebody sitting in a country with few resources to access vaccines, seeing
people in the U.S. able to walk into a pharmacy and get that vaccine and
choosing not to, I'm sure that's causing heartache," said Jen Kates, senior
vice president and director of global health and HIV policy for the Kaiser
Family Foundation.
Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials, which represents the public health agencies of
all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, said
officials anticipate that on-hand doses of COVID-19 vaccines and manufacturers'
ability to supply more will meet needs across the country.
"I think states have tried to plan as if everybody's going to be offered a
booster," he said, suggesting they will be overprepared for the more narrow
recommendations issued by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
California, for example, estimated earlier this month that it would need to
administer an extra 63 million doses by the end of 2022 -- if initial shots for
children under 12 were approved and boosters were open to everyone.
U.S. health officials late Thursday endorsed booster shots of the Pfizer
vaccine for all Americans 65 and older -- along with tens of millions of
younger people who are at higher risk from the coronavirus because of health
conditions or their jobs.
California, with nearly 40 million residents, has the lowest transmission
rate of any state and nearly 70% of eligible residents are fully vaccinated.
That leaves nearly 12 million people not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's health secretary, said the state will rely
largely on pharmacies and primary care providers to give boosters to seniors
while some large counties and health care groups will use mass vaccination
sites.
In Pennsylvania, more than 67% of residents older than 18 are fully
vaccinated. Alison Beam, acting secretary of health, said health authorities
now have "two missions": Continuing to persuade people to get vaccinated and
serving those eager to receive a booster or initial shots.
"Pennsylvania is going to be prepared," Beam said. "And we're going to have
the right level of vaccine and vaccinators to be able to meet that demand."
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