The US government has been holding back half its supply of two-shot Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. The rationale has been to guarantee enough for second shots for everybody. However, Business Insider hinted of a policy change on January 8, 2021. They said the incoming US administration plans to release its entire vaccine supply after January 20, 2021, when it assumes office.
The Pros and Cons of This Bold New Approach
Business Insider cites some public-health experts saying the US could be more generous with the current supply. This is because they believe vaccine production is unlikely to grind to a halt. The current administration’s decision was a tough call. Should it get as many first doses into as many arms as possible, or follow a more structured approach?
The two Moderna jabs should ideally be 28 days apart, while Pfizer’s should be 21. Nobody is quite sure what happens if that interval is stretched outside the laboratory, because this is uncharted waters. The current administration has only shipped half its vaccine inventory out of an abundance of caution.
The Rationale Behind US Plans to Release Its Entire Vaccine Supply
There’s always a possibility a disaster could impede production. However, Business Insider quotes the health officials saying the chances of this happening are low. The incoming administration believes it must accelerate distribution of the vaccine, spokesperson T J Ducklo told CNN.
However, state health departments may struggle with the additional workload, others say. If US plans to release its entire vaccine supply come to fruition, then this could unleash a double ‘tsunami’. Health departments are already struggling with an overload of coronavirus patients, while overseeing a historic vaccine rollout. Business Insider adds some facilities lack the staff to administer shots in larger batches.
Stephen Hahn, FDA commissioner, and Dr. Peter Marks, director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research expressed concerns. They told CNN in a statement there is a lack of data supporting the policy change. Meanwhile, Business Insider says UK officials are delaying second doses for up to 12 weeks. That’s in order to administer as many first doses as possible, to everyone they say.
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