Winter storm has delayed shipments of 6 million Covid vaccine doses in the U.S., health officials say
H/O: Covid-19 Response White House press conference
Source: The White House
Massive winter storms across the Midwest and Texas have delayed the delivery of 6 million Covid-19 vaccine doses affecting every state in the U.S., the nation’s top health officials said Friday.
The backlog represents three days worth of delayed shipments, White House senior advisor for Covid response Andy Slavitt said during a press briefing.
“Many states have been able to cover some of this delay with existing inventory,” Slavitt said.
The delayed shipments stem from three main points in the vaccines distribution chain impacted by the weather, he said. Delivery hubs at UPS, FedEx and McKesson, which have been charged with delivering the doses to the states, have reported staffing shortages.
Slavitt said their workers “have been snowed in and unable to get to work to package” the vaccines, administration kits and other supplies.
Road closures have also held up the delivery of the vaccines between manufacturing sites and shipping hubs. On top of that, more than 2,000 vaccine distribution sites are unable to receive doses because they’re in locations hampered by power outages, he said.
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