Whoaaa vaccine shortage

[AtLastEarwax]

Have I read this right, on another thread someone commented there is a vaccine shortage??

Hubby and I just had spares today and now I feel bad

Well this was hardly unexpected was it? I’m a HCP and have had my first dose. Made my appointment for the second dose and I thought when I was making it that it was a bit of a joke as obviously I won’t get it on that day. Did people think it would just go ahead as planned 😂

OP if you hadn't taken them they might have been wasted so that's fine.

I wouldn't be surprised about shortages if they happen, but we handled that better than the EU didn't we.

Dannn, why 'obviously'. No large scale plan ever goes perfectly but you make it sound like more than that.

Have you got a link to this? Any particular vaccine or all?

Temporary drop in supply for next couple of weeks due to Pfizer rejigging their manufacturing in order to scale up production from next month.

"A spokesperson for Pfizer said it had made modifications to production facilities in Belgium to scale up manufacturing capacity in Europe, with “overall projected supply” of vaccines to the UK remaining the same for January to March."

www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-15/pfizer-to-cut-covid-vaccine-deliveries-as-it-renovates-factory

It's something to do with the factories needing to change something so they can ramp up production.^^

Well DH has just booked his for Tuesday so the supplies must be fine round here.

Glad you got your vaccine op. Genuine question, how do u get to have a spare? Is it something you can register for?

The vax centre I volunteer at are closing for several days in the next 2 weeks, and open for shorter days due to the shortage of AZ vaccine

We have had very little vaccine in Canada for weeks. We have not even started vaccinating over 80s who are not in care homes.

Same reason given for Pfizer from Belgium.

Our supply is supposed to get better now.

@AtLastEarwax

Have I read this right, on another thread someone commented there is a vaccine shortage??

Hubby and I just had spares today and now I feel bad

Those spares might otherwise have been binned. In any case, virtually everyone in the top four priority groups has been done now (discounting refusers). They accounted for 88% of deaths so we are now well on our way out of this.

"In any case, virtually everyone in the top four priority groups has been done now"

Not true...I'm patiently waiting here. However, OP, don't worry, take a vaccine if offered. It still helps

[quote CoffeeandCroissant]www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-15/pfizer-to-cut-covid-vaccine-deliveries-as-it-renovates-factory[/quote]
That article's dated 15 January and the second paragraph states that the closure will help boost capacity from Mid February.

There will be a blip in supplies because Pfizer & to some extent AZ have been modifying their manufacturing capabilities to increase production capacity. I understand it will all take off again from early March, with the next two or three vaccines coming along within a couple of months.

So there will be a bit of a lull, but given that the vaccination centres are absolutely stupendously efficient I wouldn’t be surprised if numbers are higher than they have been from then on.

@DavidsSchitt

"In any case, virtually everyone in the top four priority groups has been done now"

Not true...I'm patiently waiting here. However, OP, don't worry, take a vaccine if offered. It still helps

If you are in too 4 groups and not had your jab yet, you can go on gov website and book yours today. They have been urging everyone to do this that hasn't been contacted.

It's been planned and known about for a while. Pfizer are closing their factories temporarily in order to make changes that will allow them to produce significantly more. The closures are short term (a week or two I think) and the increase in supply will more than make up the shortfall. This is a good thing overall.

Yes exactly @DavidsSchitt please book a test now rather than keep patiently waiting. And the great majority in the top 4 groups have been contacted now.

Obviously I mean vaccine rather than test

Agree. DavidsSchitt, all top 4 groups should be done by now. Matt Hancock on Mondays 5pm briefing said if you hadn't been contacted please book yours in nhs website.

In Surrey we are doing really well, are doing group 7, over 60's and shortly moving into group 8, the over 55's.

Oblomov, can I ask whereabouts in Surrey? I’m in group 6 and haven’t been contacted yet. My understanding is that Group 6 is a huge group, so it is worrying that some areas will soon be vaccinating Group 8 when others haven’t yet reached Group 6.

@SimplyGrateful. We are in Surrey, my DH received a text Friday evening and has booked in for this Tuesday evening, he is in group 6, so this group is starting rolling out here.

You know that thing that made UvdL really angry?

Well it's happening again.

And guess what? Nobody will scream, shout or threaten international sanctions.

Ask yourself why?

Sorry, last sentence was supposed to be

Patrick Valence calls it Lumpy Supply It's expected, accepted and nothing to worry about. Unless you are a journalist seeking to stir up yet more fear.

There are no shortages in our town. They've started on Group 6 and my husband was told by the nurse that supplies have been coming through thick and fast.

There about bound to be some ups and downs in vaccine supply.

Factory capacity, batch testing (a failed batch obviously puts things back), supply of things like the little glass bottles or the syringes to be prefilled (depending on which jab)

And yes it might mean pace of admisitering shots has to dip every now and again. Fairly straightforward right now, as it's nearly all first shots; might become a little more complicated from next month when second shots start falling due within a certain time.