This summer brings a reversal of last winter's vaccine supply-demand situation. Trays of vials awaiting patients replace lists of people awaiting Covid protection.
Michigan has a huge surplus of shots with an expiration clock ticking, as Bridge Michigan describes:
Michigan’s demand for the life-saving shots is so low that some 400,000 vaccines are set to expire if not used in the next four weeks, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Though officials are attempting to redistribute the supply before they go bad, there are few takers.
Come and get 'em, at any clinic in any county.
As of Thursday, 5.1 million Michiganians had at least one dose of vaccine -- 63% of those eligible.
Health department representative Lynn Sutfin tells health beat reporter Robin Erb quotes that up to 270,000 vials Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine, 114,000 of the two-dose Pfizer version and 22,000 of the two-shot Moderna vaccine will expire at different times in the next four weeks.
If recent rates remain steady at about 70,000 shots a week, that could leave roughly 126,000 doses wasted.
And that’s a best-case scenario. In reality, vaccine rates have declined nearly every week since the April peak, even as the state has tried to woo Michiganders with the promise of a $5 million lottery.
Last week, for instance, just 59,206 shots were administered, compared to 679,345 doses given during the first full week of April.
Michigan stopped ordering vaccines through a federal system six weeks ago, the Lansing health agency says. Slightly more than 150,000 doses have already gone to waste, according to the state.
Erb speaks with Norm Hess, head of the Michigan Association of Public Health, which represents city and countylocal health departments. He says:
"We have pivoted from the enthusiastic crowds lining up at the door saying 'Where’s my vaccine? Where’s my vaccine?' to people who either can't or don't want to travel to the vaccine or who are hesitant."
