If you had an appointment for your second Moderna vaccination tomorrow, like I did, we are being informed that the winter storm delays of last week have impacted us and we will now get our shots on Monday, March 1st, instead.
The Berrien County Health Department has been notified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) that due to last week’s winter storms across the United States, COVID-19 vaccine shipments to local health departments this week have been delayed. Due to those delays, the Berrien County Health Department (BCHD) has postponed appointments previously scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23rd at a clinic located at the Health Department’s Benton Harbor office at 2149 E. Napier Ave. Those who had appointments for tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23rd have been rescheduled to receive their vaccine dose on Monday, March 1st at the same time of their previously scheduled appointment.
Everyone who had an appointment on February 23rd was to receive a 2nd dose of the Moderna vaccine. All of those 2nd dose appointments are being rescheduled for Monday, March 1st at the same time as their previously scheduled appointment at the Health Department’s Benton Harbor office. There are limited options available for alternative appointments if Monday, March 1st will not be possible; clients are strongly encouraged to come for their 2nd dose on that date.
At this time, first dose COVID-19 vaccine appointments scheduled at senior centers on Wednesday and Thursday of this week are not impacted. If there are other unforeseen impacts to upcoming clinics, the Berrien County Health Department will notify clients and reschedule appointments. Questions may be directed to the department’s COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-815-5485 or email at publichealth@bchdmi.org.
Berrien County Health Officer, Nicki Britten says, “No one should worry that they will not be guaranteed their second dose of the vaccine due to this clinic postponement,” and adds, “Vaccine doses are secure for those who had an appointment, albeit slightly delayed by unfortunate winter storms experienced by much of the county within the last week.”
Research from the World Health Organization indicates that the Moderna vaccine has been shown to have an efficacy of approximately 92-percent in protecting against COVID-19, starting 14 days after the first dose. While the second dose of the vaccine should be administered as close to the recommended 28-day interval as possible, the CDC has issued guidance that the second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be administered up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose.
