A “zero-waste” policy for COVID-19 vaccinations in D.C. helps assure that doses intended for people missing scheduled appointments will get used.
The vaccines now approved for use have short shelf lives once defrosted.
“Our communication to pharmacists has been consistent about zero waste of the vaccine regarding if doses will expire due to missed appointments and that they should administer the vaccine to anyone who wants to take it,鈥� according to an email from D.C. Health.
Protocols for use recently resulted at a Giant. Giant is one of the pharmacies administering vaccines to Phase 1a health care workers, such as dentists and nurse practitioners.
鈥淭his first wave 鈥� they鈥檝e shown up because they鈥檙e so excited about getting the vaccine,鈥� said Samir Balile, manager of clinical programs for Giant Pharmacy.
But if doses are available because of no-shows, there鈥檚 a checklist for what happens next.
鈥淥ur protocol is to administer to our health care providers, which is our pharmacist and pharmacy teams first,鈥� Balile said.
Vaccine at risk of expiring then is to be offered to grocery store employees, who are considered to be front-line workers, then elderly shoppers who may be in the store, then anyone else who might be around.
鈥淭he plan is for everybody to get vaccinated 鈥� we don鈥檛 want to waste a shot and potentially lose the opportunity of protecting another person,鈥� Balile said. “There is no waiting list.”
草莓传媒鈥橲 Scott Gelman contributed to this report.
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