Federal changes to COVID-19 vaccine distribution could soon boost the amount of doses Oklahoma receives on a weekly basis.
Oklahoma is slated to receive 48,475 doses next week, but that number could double as soon as the following week when the federal government starts shipping first and second doses to states simultaneously.
Like other states, demand for COVID-19 vaccines in Oklahoma currently exceeds the state's weekly supply, leaving some residents impatient and frustrated as they desperately try to track down shots.
The Trump administration on Tuesday announced the federal government will begin releasing all available vaccines, instead of holding back doses for scheduled second shots. The change comes after President-elect Joe Biden indicated he would change vaccine distribution upon taking office.
Federal officials had been holding onto second vaccine doses to ensure people got both shots in the two-dose regimen, but say that increased vaccine manufacturing will ensure Americans receive both shots.
“This updated plan means vaccine doses will be available at a level that they haven’t been so far,” said Keith Reed, Oklahoma's deputy commissioner of health.
Increased supply means county health departments could hold more mass vaccination clinics and the state could spread doses across more distributors. With 1,367 pandemic partners signed up to distribute vaccines, the state could soon start directing doses to primary care doctors, pharmacies and community health centers, Reed said.
In two weeks, the federal government also plans to change vaccine allocation to be based on how quickly states are administering doses. In other words, states that are administering vaccines quickly could start receiving more doses.
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