On December 20 I received approval from NYC Department of Immunization to become a Covid 19 vaccination center. At the same time, I was told that it would be weeks until I would receive a supply of vaccine. After several phone calls and Emails, a wonderfully helpful administrator at the NYC Department of Immunizations scheduled a call and explained the procedure. I want to share the salient points with you:
1. We private physicians will be given the Moderna product if it is available. This product is much easier to store, distribute, and administer than Pfizer’s product. In the event that supply restrictions make it necessary to use the Pfizer product, there is a well worked out plan to solve the freezer storage problems that are so well publicized. Pfizer itself has taken responsibility for providing the extreme deep freezers and supplying enough dry ice to relieve the doctors of the storage problems.
2. The Federal government is providing the vaccine and related materials free of charge to doctors so that the patients are not charged for any of it. The administration charges are supposed to be sent to the insurance companies. Inability to pay cannot be used to deny any patient the vaccine.
3. The physician must keep a record of the administration of the vaccine like any other medical procedure. A record must then be submitted to the NYC Department of Immunization.
4. The vaccines are shipped in refrigerated boxes with temperature trackers to ensure that a spoiled vaccine that lacks potency is never administered to a patient. This would create a false sense of immunization. If any vaccine spoils, the City supplier will replace it.
5. The doctor should administer all the vaccines received to as many patients as possible. NYC DOH is not asking the doctor to save half of the vaccine for the second dose. The NYC Department of Health goal is to administer the initial vaccination dose to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. The NYC DOH accepts responsibility to supply the doctor with enough vaccine four weeks later to provide all the recipients with a second dose.
So what does this all mean for patients?
6. NYC DOH is committed to provide private physicians with vaccines. However, there is some uncertainty about the dates. I believe that the Covid vaccination is vital for people who have not had the illness. If any of you get an earlier opportunity to get a vaccination, do not wait for me. Go and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
7. The difference between the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine applies mainly to the doctor’s handling of the vaccine. It makes no difference to the patient. Patients should not delay in an effort to get one or the other vaccine. They are both excellent products and getting the vaccine quickly is the most important issue.
8. Patients who have already had Covid infections are being told to get the vaccine by the authorities. I will be interested to see if this recommendation persists. For families that have both members who have had the illness and members that have not had the illness, getting the uninfected family members vaccinated is the more urgent goal.
9. Hearing the details fleshed out by the local department of health official was very reassuring. They have correctly concerned themselves with all the important details. Once the initial delays of getting the vaccine into the system are solved, it seems highly likely that individuals will be able to access the vaccine easily.
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