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Idaho’s Promised Vaccine Doses Won’t Be Coming
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St. Luke's Wood River has announced a new vaccine clinic from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18.
 
 
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Saturday, January 16, 2021
 

STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

GRAPH BY PAUL RIES

 Those extra doses of vaccine that Idaho and other states were supposed to get? Ain’t going to happen.

 The large stash of vaccine doses that the federal government had supposedly been holding in reserve was gone even as the Trump administration announced that the federal government would release the doses to the states.

 In fact, no such reserve ever existed, according to state and federal officials briefed on distribution plans, says The Washington Post.

 “Unbelievable!” tweeted Dr. David Pate, a member of Idaho’s coronavirus task force. “The Trump administration admitted that they have not been keeping the second doses of vaccine for Americans. Now they screwed up the Strategic National Stockpile and the vaccine stockpile. Operation Warp Speed has turned out to be a joke. We can no longer be assured.”

 The lack of reserve is not expected to impede people getting second shots. But the news that they will not be getting extra doses has hit states hard, as some had expected their already limited vaccine supply to double next week.

  Oregon, for instance, will not be able to begin vaccinating its seniors on Jan. 23, as planned. Gov. Kate Brown said vaccines there will be delayed by at least two weeks.

 The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare learned on Friday that Idaho will not see a large increase in COVID-19 vaccine doses from the previously announced release of second doses, said Niki Forbing-Orr, public information officer for the department.

 “However, we have been notified by the federal government that Idaho will see a 2 percent to 5 percent increase in the number of doses we will receive each week, which amounts to about 950 extra doses each week,” she added. “At this time, Idaho is anticipating receiving 20,950 doses each week for the foreseeable future.”

 Along with other states, Idaho is requesting more accurate, timely and forward-looking estimates of doses Idaho will receive from the federal government, Forbing-Orr said.

 “DHW has committed to being transparent as we quickly work to support enrolled provider organizations as they vaccinate as many people as possible during this rapidly evolving situation,” she added.

 Idaho has so far administered 51,233 doses, with 41,424 people receiving at least one of the necessary two shots.

St. Luke's Wood River just added additional vaccine appointments from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18, for those groups currently designated to receive the vaccine. That includes, teachers, pharmacists, dentists and first responders. See https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/covid-19-vaccine/ for details. St. Luke's patients can schedule appointments online using myChart. Those who have never used St. Luke's services may call St. Luke's Connect at 208-381-9500.

This is St. Luke Wood River's fifth clinic in a week.


 

 

 

 


 

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