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Updated COVID-19 shots are becoming increasingly available in Texas after weeks of hiccups and distribution glitches since the vaccine was approved for people 6 months and older last month, providers say.
However, there are still inconsistencies in availability as hospitals, pediatricians, and pharmacies are directly collaborating with drug manufacturers, instead of relying on the state and federal government, to obtain their initial supplies of COVID-19 vaccines.
Consequently, doses are not being delivered to healthcare facilities statewide at regular, foreseeable intervals. This is mainly due to individual providers ordering vaccines based on their own projected demand and staff availability, while also navigating the complexities of insurance reimbursement for vaccines that were previously covered by the government. While such a system is common for regular annual vaccines, it is novel to the COVID-19 vaccination protocol.
Laura Ehrlich, a parent and communications specialist in Austin, expressed her concerns about the challenges she faced. “I’ve had a difficult time,” she stated. “Three different pharmacies wrongly informed me that the vaccine wasn’t available for children under 5 as it hadn’t received FDA approval. I’m troubled by the misinformation spread by pharmacists.”
Dr. Stanley Spinner, the chief medical officer and vice president of Texas Children’s Pediatrics and Texas Children’s Urgent Care, stated that officials at Texas Children’s in Houston have not received any indications of shortages. However, they have yet to initiate the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations to their pediatric patients. Dr. Spinner anticipates that this process will commence sometime within this month.
Spinner stated that they have been putting in considerable effort to ensure they can acquire it. The key factors to consider are timing, logistics, and being fully prepared for the smooth execution of the entire rollout process.
As COVID-19 rates continue to fluctuate in recent weeks, shipments of the vaccine are reliant on commercial distribution networks. This situation creates a varied landscape of access, leading to a patchwork distribution system. Additionally, the demand for the vaccine is anticipated to be low.
Tamara Baker, the senior director of clinical operations at Austin Regional Clinics, stated that there have been patients reaching out to our appointment line and discussing the COVID vaccine with their physicians during appointments. However, the volume of such inquiries is not significant.
According to her statement at ARC, the vaccine has started to arrive in small quantities, but a larger supply is anticipated to arrive shortly.
She stated that due to shipping delays, the information regarding arrival changes on a daily basis.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the updated vaccine for people ages six months and older in mid-September.
According to Shelley Kofler, spokesperson for University Health in San Antonio, the administration of shots commenced on Monday as they started inoculating individuals.
According to her, they gave out 95 shots for adult COVID-19 vaccinations on the initial day. However, the count rose to 105 on Tuesday, which included two children.
She stated that we are keeping a close eye on the interest and will adjust our supply accordingly to meet the demand.
Austin Public Health is providing shots to children under age 11 but still waiting on doses for older patients to come in, officials there say. Officials with the drug store chain Walgreens told the Tribune in an email this week that they have the shots in pharmacies across Texas, although pharmacies in this state are not authorized to give the COVID shots to children younger than 3.
John Henderson, executive director of the Texas Organization for Rural and Community Hospitals, stated that providers in rural areas have not expressed any concerns regarding the accessibility of the vaccine.
In Huntsville, pharmacies are distributing COVID-19 vaccinations to both adults and children, but doctors are facing challenges in persuading parents to consider another round of vaccinations.
Dr. Lane Aiena, a family medicine physician in Huntsville, expressed that the uptake is satisfactory. He emphasized the importance of framing it as a yearly shot, similar to the flu, in order to help people comprehend the necessity of receiving it again.
Pediatricians in El Paso highlight that the combination of low risk of severe COVID-19 illness in children, widespread misinformation about vaccine safety and efficacy, and the absence of free access to vaccines for all, irrespective of insurance coverage, presents a significant challenge.
Medicaid and uninsured patients can obtain the vaccine for free, but providers are expected to bill insurance companies for those recipients who are covered.
Dr. Glenn Fennelly, professor and chair of pediatrics at Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso, highlighted that certain families may face obstacles due to co-pays or other expenses associated with the updated COVID-19 vaccines. Additionally, he expressed concerns about the impact of supply and distribution issues on the availability of these vaccines.
However, according to Fennelly, medical providers anticipate that the demand for the new COVID-19 vaccines will be considerably lower compared to previous vaccines. This is likely due to families perceiving it as a lower priority.
Providers recognize that the vaccine’s initial distribution is happening under unique circumstances, characterized by reduced government participation and slightly diminished urgency compared to previous years.
In the past, cash rewards and gift certificates were being provided by cities and counties as incentives for individuals receiving their COVID-19 vaccinations. The state had also deployed mobile vaccination units to various locations such as office buildings, neighborhoods, and remote communities. Additionally, the state had invested significant funds into million-dollar public service campaigns with the aim of promoting vaccine acceptance.
The CDC, operating at the federal level, administered vaccinations to individuals at bars and sorority houses. Additionally, they conducted frequent press conferences to actively encourage vaccine adoption. The federal government procured vaccines from renowned manufacturers such as Pfizer and Moderna and subsequently distributed them to states. The states then allocated the vaccines to qualified providers for administration.
Following the conclusion of the federal health emergency, both state and federal governments have withdrawn from the distribution process. Providers now follow the same procedure for ordering the COVID-19 vaccine as they do for other vaccines.
The Texas Legislature has prohibited the Texas Department of State Health Services from utilizing public funds to advocate for the vaccine.
“The state agency’s spokesperson, Chris Van Deusen, stated that we no longer engage in the distribution of vaccines.”
During the upcoming special session of the Legislature that begins on Monday, conservative lawmakers in Texas aim to expand the prohibition on mandating vaccines or masks in government offices, buildings, or workplaces to include private businesses as well.
In contrast to previous vaccine distribution efforts, where the primary hurdle was the limited supply, the present difficulties primarily revolve around uncertainties regarding the timing and locations of vaccine availability. Additionally, there is incomplete information regarding payment methods and eligibility criteria for individuals seeking the vaccine.
Melissa Britton-Reimer, a mother from Austin, expressed frustration at the lack of information regarding the availability of COVID-19 vaccines for her elementary-age children. Despite her recent attempts to make appointments, she has been unable to obtain any satisfactory explanation as to why the vaccines have been approved but are still not accessible at pharmacies. According to Britton-Reimer, a pharmacist informed her that the vaccines were not currently being offered, and there was no specific date for when they would become available.
“Receiving the response to simply continue attempting to make them an appointment left her unsatisfied,” she expressed. “Who can afford to invest time in that?”
