Winter weather impacting COVID-19 vaccines, including shipments to Pennsylvania
Winter storms across the country have delayed shipments of COVID-19 vaccines, causing a significant backlog of orders.
As a result of the winter weather, Moderna vaccine shipments were canceled Monday through Wednesday.
The Pfizer vaccine wasn’t distributed on Monday, and a limited supply was sent out on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Lindsey Mauldin, senior advisor with the state Department of Health.
Mauldin said the poor weather will impact “a majority” of vaccine providers in Pennsylvania.
But, Mauldin doesn’t believe it will impact the three-week window the DOH estimates it will take to make sure it gets back on track after an error resulted in pushing back 30,000 to 60,000 second-dose appointments of the Moderna vaccine and delaying delivery of another 30,000 to 55,000 first doses.
“We do understand that these weather delays will impact the ability to get vaccine into arms,” Mauldin said during a press conference.
She advised people who are scheduled to receive a COVID vaccine to contact their provider to see if there are any delays.