COVID-19 Vaccine demand outpacing supply

Sheridan Memorial Hospital has received approximately 970 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. That includes 700 doses in late December and 270 doses in mid-January.

Another 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are scheduled to arrive Jan. 26, and according to Dr. John Addlesperger, SMH Chief Medical Officer, appointments are currently being scheduled to administer those doses as well.

During a SMH leadership briefing, Addlesperger said leadership is watching the national supply chain and barring an unforeseen event, does not expect a substantial increase in vaccine delivery. 

“That’s our goal, to receive vaccines and get it into arms as soon as possible,” Addlesperger said.  

Even though the vaccine schedules are currently full, SMH is still accepting phone calls and putting eligible people on a waitlist to be scheduled at a later date when the next vaccine shipments arrive in February, according to a press release from SMH.

“Our process for developing the waitlist and getting people scheduled is simple, but it takes a while to execute due to the high volume of calls we are receiving versus the supply of vaccine we have received,” Tim Grollmes, SMH Internal Medicine Practice Administrator said. “We don’t know what quantity of vaccine we are going to receive from month-to-month. That makes it tough to schedule.”

In making vaccine appointments, SMH is following a phased priority list established by the CDC and Wyoming Department of Health. Phase 1a is primarily essential workers and Phase 1b includes essential workers as well as people from the general public over 70 years of age.  Click here – Phase 1a and 1b COVID-19 Vaccination Priorities – to see the complete priority list.

“Right now, we are scheduling vaccinations for essential workers and people 70 years of age and older,” Grollmes said. “Once we get through those two populations, we will move on to the rest of the priority list. It could take a couple of months depending on how many people want the vaccine.”

Since each of the vaccines requires a booster shot follow up (Moderna at four weeks and Pfizer at three weeks), SMH is scheduling patients for their booster shot immediately after receiving their first shot, before they leave the clinic.

Those who have been identified as essential workers or are 70 years of age or older and want to receive the vaccine, please call the SMH COVID Vaccination Clinic at 307-675-4471.  More information is also available at the Sheridan County Public Health website – https://www.sheridancounty.com/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines/.

“Until we can get the majority of our community vaccinated, it is important that we remain diligent in following the COVID protocols set forth by the CDC,” Addlesperger said.

Those protocols still include:  staying home when ill, wearing a mask, socially distancing, washing your hands and disinfecting high traffic surfaces.