PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday unveiled a giant vaccine allocation mistake that could impact more than 100,000 vaccination appointments. The mistake only affects the Moderna vaccine.
The health department says some providers have mixed 200,000 first and second doses. The state is now trying to find a replacement vaccine and reschedule the appointments.
RELATED: Residents of the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood want a hit and run driver caught after several parked cars were hit
“We’re not here to blame,” said Pennsylvania Health Interim Secretary of Health Alison Beam.
The health secretary declined to name the vaccine providers who made the mistake, but called it a perfect storm that led to the diversion of 200,000 doses of Moderna vaccine.
“We found that some suppliers mistakenly used the Moderna vaccine delivered to them as secondary doses, as the first doses,” Beam said.
It is now struggling to get extra vaccine and use excess inventory, with the first priority being between 30,000 and 60,000 people scheduled to receive a second dose of Moderna.
This should happen in 28 days, but can be extended to 42 days.
By extending the time between doses, while remaining within the CDC guidelines, we can minimize any interruption of first-dose vaccinations, Beam said.
RELATED: Montgomery County switches to Pfizer vaccine after modern shortage leads to more than 5,200 canceled appointments
Unnamed suppliers, which include a growing number of pharmacies that have made a mistake, will reschedule.
“I can assure you, for sure, that our team has been meticulous in keeping the first and second doses separate,” said Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, chairman of the Montgomery County Commission.
Even though Montgomery County did not beat the doses, Arkoosh says he will have to juggle appointments because of the allocation error.
“I was surprised, angry and disappointed,” she said.
State officials blame the limited vaccine, but the health secretary acknowledged the lack of surveillance of suppliers.
“Communications will also be improved throughout our journey forward, to allow us to prevent this from moving forward,” Beam said.
Many have criticized the state for not having a centralized vaccination system, and distribution is virtually left to suppliers.
MORE: Operation Safe Quarantine Salt 15 more arrests for child pornography charges in Burlington County
Montgomery County says it will close or change hours for its mass vaccination clinics because of the weather and misallocation.