Some Americans who secured appointments for the latest Covid-19 vaccine formulations are experiencing cancellations, supply shortages, and insurance coverage issues. Both CVS and Walgreens, two major pharmacy chains in the United States, have reported issues related to the latest vaccine rollout.
CVS stated that while the majority of its locations can honor scheduled appointments, some stores are experiencing delivery delays, leading to the rescheduling of vaccination appointments. A spokesperson for Walgreens said that most of its stores have enough supply for existing appointments, with additional slots becoming available as more vaccine doses arrive.
Moderna and Pfizer, the vaccine manufacturers, have stated that they have shipped millions of doses of the new formulations since they were approved, with more doses ready for distribution. Moderna specifically mentioned that it had shipped vaccines to distributors and would work with them to ensure delivery to pharmacies and other providers.
The new round of Covid-19 vaccines marks a departure from previous vaccine distribution efforts, as the government is not playing a leading role. Providers are now purchasing the vaccines from distributors or manufacturers directly. This change has led to some delays and supply challenges as providers need to estimate demand and are responsible for unused doses.
The rollout of Covid-19 vaccines for children appears to face additional challenges, with CVS expecting to receive pediatric doses later and Walmart anticipating their arrival after adult vaccines. Walgreens has announced that appointments for children under 12 years old will not begin until a later date.
The transition to a different distribution model and the complexities of vaccine supply chains have created new challenges for both providers and individuals seeking vaccinations.
