Delivery of COVID-19 vaccines continues to be hampered throughout Pennsylvania due to the effects of recent winter storms.
The CDC alerted the state to expect delays of both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
“Weather this week has been challenging in terms of getting vaccine delivered from manufacturers directly to vaccine providers in Pennsylvania and across the country,” said Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam. “As we have been emphasizing, we are working with our vaccine providers to ensure they are aware of the shipment delays as they continue to be in contact with people who have scheduled appointments to reschedule so that people are assured their vaccine.
“It’s too early to know which vaccine providers are being affected by these weather-related delays. We know that the federal government is working with manufacturers and we know that local vaccine providers will be ready when the shipments do get through. Unfortunately, weather delays will impact the ability to get vaccine into arms and providers are working to reschedule appointments as necessary.”
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Pennsylvania was expecting more than 183,000 first doses of the vaccine this week, most of which were the Moderna vaccine and the remaining were the Pfizer vaccine.
The Wolf administration says the Moderna vaccine was not shipped Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and the Pfizer vaccine was not shipped Monday. However a limited supply of the Pfizer vaccine was shipped on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The state also says supply from the federal government continues to be limited.
Due to delays in shipping, Department of Health Senior Advisor for COVID-19 Response Lindsey Mauldin says residents should call ahead before traveling for a vaccination appointment to be sure the shot is still available.
In addition to the weather, the state revealed that there was a mix-up in the administration of doses of the Moderna vaccine as some providers accidentally gave out the wrong shots.
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"We discovered some providers inadvertently used the Moderna vaccine shipped to them intended as second doses, as first doses," said Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam.