Access to the COVID-19 vaccine is becoming a national concern. So much so, that Oschner Healthcare System had to cancel more than 20,000 vaccination appointments last week because they didn’t have enough doses. According to Ochsner, the medical center has built a structure that makes it easy for them to schedule people to receive the vaccines. They said they can ramp up even more when more vaccine becomes available. Due to the limited doses they are receiving, Ochsner said it was forced to cancel 21,400 appointments for people who were already scheduled to get the vaccine in the next few weeks. Ochsner officials said they have been able to reschedule about 10 percent of those appointments. Last week, Ochsner said it received 3,900 doses for South Louisiana and this week they expect 1,950. This is a 70 percent decline in vaccine supply from what they were getting several weeks ago, according to Ochsner. Ochsner leaders said they have the manpower and capabilities to administer many more vaccines than they currently are doing but do not have the supply. The shortage is only affecting those who were scheduled to receive their first dose. Patients who are waiting to receive their second dose will get them as scheduled, according to Ochsner.
NEW ORLEANS —
Access to the COVID-19 vaccine is becoming a national concern. So much so, that Oschner Healthcare System had to cancel more than 20,000 vaccination appointments last week because they didn’t have enough doses.
According to Ochsner, the medical center has built a structure that makes it easy for them to schedule people to receive the vaccines. They said they can ramp up even more when more vaccine becomes available.
Due to the limited doses they are receiving, Ochsner said it was forced to cancel 21,400 appointments for people who were already scheduled to get the vaccine in the next few weeks.
Ochsner officials said they have been able to reschedule about 10 percent of those appointments.
Last week, Ochsner said it received 3,900 doses for South Louisiana and this week they expect 1,950.
This is a 70 percent decline in vaccine supply from what they were getting several weeks ago, according to Ochsner.
Ochsner leaders said they have the manpower and capabilities to administer many more vaccines than they currently are doing but do not have the supply.
The shortage is only affecting those who were scheduled to receive their first dose. Patients who are waiting to receive their second dose will get them as scheduled, according to Ochsner.