(WWJ) Beaumont has to postpone nearly 2,000 vaccine appointments this week.
The health system announced it has to push 1,884 appointments for second doses back a week due to "an unexpected and significant" reduction of allocation of Pfizer vaccines from the state.
The cancellation affects people scheduled this Thursday.
Beaumont said it will automatically reschedule all cancelled appointments to Thursday, February 25, at the same time originally scheduled.
Three weeks is the typical amount of time between doses for the Pfizer vaccine. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it remains effective when patients receive the second doses up to six weeks after the first.
"We are so disappointed that we had to cancel these vaccines," Carolyn Wilson, Beaumont's Chief Operating Officer said in a release. "We remain committed to vaccinating patients as quickly as possible. "Our teams worked around the clock and throughout the weekend with the state to secure the vaccine second dose we committed to."
Patients will receive an email if their appointment is canceled. However, Beaumont will also contact patients via phone if they do not have access to email.
Beaumont will not be able to schedule anymore first doses at the Beaumont Service Center in Southfield until they receive more doses from the state.
People scheduled to receive doses of the Moderna vaccine in Dearborn are not affected.
The health system said it is prepared to administer 50,000 doses a week, but this week will only be able to do 2,200 due to a lower state allocation.
