Pollack reported hearing confusion, including that “some hospitals received far less vaccine than they requested and needed, while others received more than they could use for Priority 1 individuals, but without an explanation for this mismatch.”
He added that progress should be measured against the goals, and it should be made clear whether the current pace is fast enough to get the country vaccinated on schedule, which he said could mean as many as 1.8 million vaccinations per day between Jan. 15 and May 31.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Currently, there are 64 disparate microplans developed by the states, a few large cities, and other jurisdictions,” Pollack wrote. “Has the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) assessed whether these plans, taken as a whole, are capable of achieving this level of vaccination? If not, is the Department working with the jurisdictions to amend their plans to achieve this goal?”
Did you discover extra doses of Pfizer s coronavirus vaccine? Here s what you should do.
Pfizer s and
BioNTech s coronavirus vaccine contain more than the expected doses. Amid initial confusion and a lack of clear guidance, providers discarded many of the extra doses.
Pharmacists discover extra doses of Pfizer s coronavirus vaccine and some get thrown away
According to
Politico, Pfizer has said that each vial of its coronavirus vaccine should contain five doses. However, as pharmacists and providers began administering the first authorized doses of the vaccine early this week, they noticed that some of the vials contained enough remaining material for a sixth and sometimes seventh dose. According to
UPDATE: Dec. 15, 2020: Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia s attorneys general urged HHS to force drugmakers to comply with the 340B drug pricing program rules in a Monday letter.
Led by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, President-elect Joe Biden s pick to lead HHS, the group alleges Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, Novartis, Merck & Co., United Therapeutics and other pharmas have unlawfully refused to give discounts to covered entities.
Dive Brief:
Six provider groups including the American Hospital Association on Friday filed a federal lawsuit against HHS, alleging the department failed to enforce 340B drug pricing program requirements and allowed actions from drug companies that undermined the program.