Just 0.18% of more than 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine given to Pennsylvania hospitals, pharmacies and other providers through May 21 were discarded.
Allegheny County Health Department spoiled 636 Pfizer doses allocated to county vaccination sites over three separate days April 21, April 24, and May 9 after officials started to thaw vaccines but then experienced a “sudden and unexpected drop in filled appointments,” said a department spokesman.
WHYY
By
Jamie Martines, Spotlight PAMay 25, 2021
Just 0.18% of more than 10 million doses given to hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers through May 21 were discarded (Fred Adams/Spotlight PA)
This story originally appeared on Spotlight PA.
After refusing to release details about wasted coronavirus vaccine, citing a decades-old disease prevention law, the Wolf administration has reversed course and made public how many doses have been discarded by providers and why.
The data shows just 0.18% of more than 10 million doses given to hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers through May 21 were not used.
Of the 18,644 discarded doses, providers reported spoilage as the cause in more than 37% of cases. Spoiled vaccines typically include those that have expired or those that were not stored at the correct temperature due to conditions like equipment failure, state health officials said.
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CP photo: Kaycee Orwig Outdoor diners in Pittsburgh s South Side neighborhood Gov. Tom Wolf recently announced that Pennsylvania will be loosening gathering restrictions for indoor and outdoor ventures, with those restrictions being lifted completely two weeks later. Effective Mon., May 17, the maximum capacity limits for indoor events and gatherings will be increased to 50% and outdoor events and gatherings will be upped to 75%. Then on Mon., May 31, all gathering restrictions will be lifted entirely. In a press release from May 4, Pennsylvania Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam encouraged all Pennsylvanians to get vaccinated as a way to combat COVID-19 spread, and said the state is set to loosen restrictions because of its good progress at distributing the vaccine. As of May 12, nearly 4 million Pennsylvania