State works to make up for canceled clinics
Winter weather could cause further COVID19 vaccine distribution delays in Oklahoma, but it shouldn't affect the overall supply of doses, the state Health Department announced Wednesday.
To make up f or canceled vaccine clinics this week, the Oklahoma State Department of Health said it plans to add clinics that would focus on vaccinating Oklahomans 65 and older who need a second vaccine dose.
If the weather allows, those clinics will begin this weekend, with appointments opening in the state's vaccine scheduling portal Wednesday and Thursday.
The state said it is taking precautions to avoid any wasted doses with t he threat of power outages and canceled appointments as temperatures have plunged and snow has blanketed the state. In the event of a power outage, backup generators would be used to keep vaccine temperatures controlled or the vaccines would quickly be moved to a second site, the state Health Department said.
The agency said it expects to see a 25% increase in Pfizer vaccine supply next week, which is expected to arrive in Oklahoma either early or in the middle of the week.
That's on top of a 20% i ncrease t he s t at e was already expecting in vaccine supplies. In total, the state anticipates having 137,000 doses available next week, including both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for prime and booster doses.
Blaine Bolding, the chief of public health protection for the Oklahoma City-County Health Department, said a vaccine delivery from the federal government had not yet arrived this week because of weather issues, but it was expected to arrive this weekend.
That means there will be enough vaccine for a “very heavy campaign next week,” as many more Oklahomans become eligible for vaccines, he said. Beginning Monday, pre-K through 12th grade teachers and support staff as well as Oklahomans ages 16 through 64 with comorbidities will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.