Meadville, PA – Meadville Medical Center (MMC) today shared an update
to the recent COVID-19 vaccination process.
Delays in shipping and reduced allocations of second doses of the Pfizer
vaccine from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has resulted
in four points of distribution (PODs) to be rescheduled. The distributions
that have been affected to date are:
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February 18, 2021: 864 individuals were scheduled to receive a 1st dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
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February 20, 2021: 1,117 individuals were scheduled to receive a 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
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February 22, 2021: 625 individuals were scheduled to receive a 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine
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February 24, 2021: 327 individuals were scheduled to receive a 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
In total, 2,933 individuals have been affected by these delays.
Due to issues in other areas in the Commonwealth with managing 1st and 2nd dose administration the DOH is now mandating specific use of vaccine,
whether it be 1st or 2nd dose, and has prioritized distributing 1st doses ahead of 2nd doses.
When a distribution center is sent a new shipment of vaccines the DOH requires
that they be used for either 1st or 2nd doses. This requirement, along with a lack of supply, leads to some individuals
being able to receive their 1st dose before those who have already been delayed and rescheduled are able
to receive their 2nd dose.
MMC received a shipment of 1,170 doses from Pfizer on February 22nd. The
DOH earmarked those vaccines to be used for 1st doses only so the February 18th point of distribution was rescheduled to February 24th and was completed.
MMC then received a second shipment of 1,170 Pfizer vaccines on February
24th which has also been earmarked by the DOH for 1st dose administration. These vaccines will be administered on February 27th.
The priority is being given to anyone staff are able to contact and schedule
from the existing waiting list. Then at 10:00 AM on February 26th, the general public will have an opportunity to register at
www.mmchs.org/vaccinePOD. Please note: MMC’s Crawford County Vaccination call center has
no additional information besides what is included at this webpage and
vaccines will continue to be administered by appointment only.
The last known shipment MMC is scheduled to receive has been earmarked
by the DOH for 2nd dose administration. Individuals who were scheduled to receive a second
vaccine on February 20th are being rescheduled at their original appointment time to March 3rd. This event will be held at St. Mary’s Community Center.
MMC has not received confirmation from Pfizer nor the DOH of any additional
shipments of vaccine for 2nd doses. MMC has applied to receive three shipments, totaling 3,500 doses,
to administer to individuals who were scheduled on February 22nd and 24th, and those who are currently scheduled on March 6th. Registration for the distribution will be announced once MMC receives
the shipment and the process by which people can register will be shared
at that time.
Anyone who is scheduled for a second dose on March 1, 2021 will still be
scheduled as originally set because the 1st dose distribution was done in partnership with vaccines from the Titusville
Area Hospital.