Georgians seeking a new coronavirus vaccine are facing all sorts of obstacles. Some people are having trouble finding doses, while others have been told they will have to pay up to $200 for the shot. Across the state, parents are finding it nearly impossible to find vaccines for their children.
And it may take several weeks for the problem to be resolved.
This week COVID-19 vaccines are starting to become more available in Georgia, but supplies are limited and vaccines for children are the hardest to find.
Atlanta resident Hattie Gellhausen said finding vaccination appointments for her two young children is difficult and time-consuming. It took her nearly 10 hours to get reservations for her 3 year old and her 5 year old children. vaccine.gov She made multiple phone calls to stores like Walgreens and contacted a Facebook group dedicated to Georgians seeking the COVID-19 vaccine.
She said there was at least one occasion where she was unable to get an appointment because the store told her the vaccine wasn’t actually available.
I have an appointment to meet the kids at Walmart on Saturday, and I’m hoping it goes well.
“I wish there was a clearer way to know how to get it.” [the vaccine] and where to get it. It was definitely frustrating. ”
Previously, the federal government purchased vaccines in large quantities and provided them free to Americans. From this vaccine, the commercial market took over the job of purchasing and distributing the shots. Unlike the annual influenza vaccine, the manufacturer and manufacturing process are new and there have been problems so far.
Problems with vaccine rollout have been reported across the country.
Vaccines.gov, the primary resource provided to guide people Unavailability of the vaccine nearby may indicate a shortage of pediatricians or other locations where the vaccine is available and, in some cases, availability at facilities where the vaccine is not available.
Many people have cited problems with getting the Moderna vaccine from Irving, Texas-based distributor McKesson. McKesson did not respond to questions about Friday’s broadcast.
Georgia DPH plans to offer shots For adults and children Health departments across the state are also implementing the measures, but there have been delays. As of Friday afternoon, vaccines are beginning to arrive at several health departments, including Fulton, Gwinnett, Clayton and Athens-Clarke counties, but supplies are limited. At this time, DPH is encouraging people to call their local health department to make an appointment and see if they are eligible for vaccination.
“While DPH has pre-ordered vaccines, our health department is facing the same vaccine ordering issues we have heard from private providers: delayed shipments from manufacturers, partial shipments; Vaccines for ages that are not, and vaccines for some ages, etc. Health officials have received orders for Moderna, but not orders for Pfizer,” DPH spokeswoman Nancy Nydam said. said in an email to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Dr. Ashish Jha, who served as the White House coronavirus response coordinator from March 2022 to June this year, said the rollout of vaccine doses is becoming entangled in the complexities of the U.S. health care system. Ta.
“We want to switch from the government as a single buyer buying all of these things (COVID-19 vaccines) to a commercial system where there are literally hundreds of buyers (intermediaries, pharmacy benefit management companies, etc.). If you’re forced to, it’s going to be tough. Make it a little bumpy,” said Jha, who spoke at a coronavirus webinar held Thursday by the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com
Jha noted that the U.S. has an “incredibly complex health care system” and that insurance companies are creating new billing codes for pharmacies and doctors to ensure vaccine coverage. He said this was one of the major reasons for the delay. He said this had been a “major stumbling block” over the past few weeks, but “it’s mostly fixed.” Jha also reported that there are no shortages of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
He added: “We are confident that supply and supply will increase in the coming weeks, if not months.” But it’s going to be uneven for a little while. ”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the latest vaccine for use in children 6 months and older in mid-September. Public health experts hope the vaccine will help prevent the next surge in coronavirus cases expected in the fall and winter.
Only about one in four U.S. adults say they are “definitely” planning to get the newly updated coronavirus vaccine. According to a KFF study released Wednesday.
In Georgia, limited supplies of both adult and pediatric coronavirus vaccines are available in health districts served by the Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments. District Medical Director Dr. Audrey Arona said: He said the vaccine rollout is facing some logistical challenges, but he expects them to be resolved soon.
“Waiting for the vaccine can be frustrating when you want to get it as soon as possible, but I think it will resolve itself within a few days,” Arona said.
He noted that coronavirus vaccines for adults and children administered at local health departments are available to all Georgians, including insured and uninsured people, as well as undocumented immigrants.
Many pediatric practices in Georgia are facing too many questions about how much they will be reimbursed by insurance companies, and some insurance companies have been slow to update codes covering vaccines, the Georgia chapter said. For these reasons, orders for vaccines for children are being put on hold. American Academy of Pediatrics.
DeKalb Pediatric Center, a large clinic that has been leading the state in administering coronavirus vaccines since the beginning, is one place parents can find vaccines for their children, but they also face logistical challenges. I have a problem.
In an email, founder Dr. Jane Wilkoff said: DeKalb Pediatric CenterMost pediatricians have pre-ordered the Moderna vaccine for young children because it comes in single-dose vials and has a longer shelf life than the Pfizer vaccine, according to . But the Moderna vaccine never arrived. Concerned that the Moderna vaccine might take weeks to arrive, Wilkoff ordered the Pfizer vaccine, which has already arrived.
Meanwhile, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is still waiting on its first shipment of a newly updated coronavirus vaccine for children.
pharmacies that provide vaccines; Websites claim to be the best source of information on vaccine availability, including CVS. Many pharmacies only vaccinate children 3 years of age and older. CVS MinuteClinic locations will begin offering vaccines to children 18 months and older in the coming days, a spokesperson said.
