New COVID vaccine rollout foiled again by supply chain delays? What pharmacies are saying

Supply chain delays have prompted some pharmacies in New York to cancel or delay appointments this week for new COVID-19 vaccines, according to USA TODAY Network readers and a national pharmacy chain.

Several New Yorkers trying to get the updated COVID-19 vaccines this week at Walgreens and Wegmans pharmacies were told supplies had yet to arrive or ran out, according to emails and social media posts sent to USA TODAY Network.

But it remains difficult to determine how many vaccination locations have been impacted by supply chain problems because drugmakers have taken over the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines from state and federal agencies, which previously managed the process under pandemic emergency declarations that expired this past spring.

In response to USA TODAY Network questions, Pfizer, one of the makers of the updated COVID-19 vaccine, said it "does not have any supply shortages" and plans to ship out millions of doses each week.

The supply issues come after delays in health insurance coverage for the new COVID-19 vaccines resulted in some New Yorkers being told to pay upwards of $120 out of pocket for a shot, or to reschedule appointments. Health plans say those coverage delays have now been addressed.

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What do pharmacies say about COVID vaccine supply delays?

In response to USA TODAY Network questions, Walgreens on Wednesday noted in a statement it is “aware of isolated incidences at a small number of locations” where vaccine supply delays resulted in rescheduling shots for a later day.

The Illinois-based pharmacy company asserted most Walgreens stores in New York “now have supply to support existing patient appointments” for COVID-19 shots, with more appointments becoming available on “a rolling basis as supply” arrives.

Wegmans confirmed it has yet to receive new COVID-19 vaccines. Its pharmacies anticipate the first shipments will arrive early next week and will kickoff walk-in appointments, the company said in a statement.

Calls Wednesday to several CVS Health pharmacies in the Rochester area and Westchester County found some sites were allowing walk-ins to get new COVID-19 vaccines. Two pharmacists in Westchester said their sites were running short of supply and postponing walk-ins or additional appointments until another shipment arrives.

COVID vaccine: New Yorkers trying to get new COVID vaccine told they had to pay $120. Is coverage delay fixed?

What NY says about COVID vaccine supply issues

Officials with the state Department of Health asserted the expiration of the state and federal pandemic emergency declarations earlier this year ended the state’s direct role in securing and distributing COVID-19 vaccine doses.

Earlier in the pandemic, executive orders allowed state officials to oversee and control all aspects of the vaccine supply chain within the state.

Going forward, that process will be handled primarily by pharmacies, health providers and drugmakers, state health officials said, comparing it to the annual flu vaccine rollout.

Still, missteps in the new COVID-19 vaccines’ rollout in New York connected to health insurance and supply delays come amid national concerns about potentially limited uptake of the new COVID-19 vaccines, despite rising infections and hospitalizations. Federal regulators last week recommended the shot for ages six months and above.

In a statement to USA TODAY Network, Health Department spokesperson Daniel DeSouza noted the state maintains a partial role in distributing new COVID-19 vaccines.

The shots are also available to health providers enrolled in the Vaccines for Children program, she added, which include those enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, uninsured, underinsured, and American Indian/Alaskan Native.

The Health Department also has opened ordering for providers participating in the federal Bridge Access Program for uninsured and underinsured adults.

As of Wednesday, 5,150 doses have been shipped to providers participating in those programs, health officials said.  And more than 7,000 additional doses have been ordered to date with shipments expected in the next week.

State health officials said pediatric vaccination doses administered to New Yorkers will be reported, but the data is not available yet, DeSouza said. Adult vaccination doses will only be reported to officials upon patient consent, she added, noting now-expired pandemic emergency orders had previously suspended that patient consent requirement.

The Health Department also held monthly provider office hours and sent multiple communications to providers that participated in the previous COVID-19 vaccination efforts to keep them informed of the transition to commercial market in fall 2023, DeSouza added.

Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday received the updated COVID-19 vaccine shot. She initially got a Johnson & Johnson vaccine in March 2021, her first booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 booster in October 2021, and her second booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 booster in April of 2022, according to the governor's office.

“Vaccination is a critical public health tool to protect us against becoming seriously ill with COVID-19,” Hochul said in a statement.

What Pfizer, Moderna say about COVID vaccine supplies

Walgreens referred questions about the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses it received at New York stores to Pfizer and Moderna, the drug companies that made the new COVID-19 vaccines.

New York-based Pfizer asserted in a statement to USA TODAY Network that the drugmaker "has substantial supply" of its new COVID-19 vaccine and "does not have any shortages." Pfizer noted it has "shipped and delivered several million doses" of its vaccine.

Pfizer added it is "continuing to fulfill orders" and anticipates "delivering millions of additional doses each week."

In response to USA TODAY Network questions, Massachusetts-based Moderna provided a statement Thursday that asserted it is working to "support distributors to ensure that the significant supply of vaccines" it already provided to them "continues to rapidly reach pharmacies and other points of care."

Additional supply is being shipped daily as Moderna continues to see high demand, the company noted, adding it continues to have an ample supply of updated COVID-19 vaccine available, with an additional 6 million doses available as of Thursday.

Have you had problems getting new COVID vaccine in NY?

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: COVID in NY vaccine supply delays? What pharmacies are saying