CHICAGO – Expected number of deliveries of a COVID-19 vaccine have been roughly cut in half nationwide.
“As of this morning, I’m disappointed to learn that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has informed us that per the direction of Operation Warp Speed General Perna, that estimate was tightnend significantly. Down to 4.3 million doses shipped nationally next week,” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Wednesday. The national news came at the start of a COVID-19 press briefing Wednesday afternoon.
HHS had estimated roughly 8 million doses would be delivered across the country earlier this month. The following week now has the same cut in projections.
The cut comes after Alaskan health care worker was hospitalized for a serious allergic reaction after receiving the vaccine on Tuesday. The U.K’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency already updated guidance this week, cautioning “any person with a history of a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food (such as previous history of anaphylactoid reaction or those who have been advised to carry an adrenaline autoinjector) should not receive the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine.” At least two people in the UK have reported such reactions in recent days.
Prtizker said the cuts do not affect shipments that have already been received in local areas. “Again, this is the latest from the Federal Government so I wanted to make sure that all Illinoisans had the most up to date information on this roll out, as soon as I do.” Prtizker explained.
