Supply Chain Challenges Lead to Canceled Appointments: What You Need to Know

Some Americans seeking the latest Covid-19 vaccines are experiencing a sense of déjà vu.

Unfortunately, certain individuals who managed to secure an appointment for the latest vaccine formulation are either receiving cancellation notices or arriving at their appointments only to learn that there are no doses available for them. To compound the frustration, some are being informed that they need to pay over $100 out of pocket because their insurance providers have not yet covered the cost of the shots.

According to a statement from a CVS spokesperson, the majority of CVS locations are still able to honor scheduled appointments. However, delivery delays to specific stores are necessitating the rescheduling of shots. On the other hand, most Walgreens stores have sufficient supply for existing appointments, and additional slots are being made available as more shots become available.

Vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Pfizer have asserted that they have shipped millions of doses of the new vaccine versions since their approval. Moreover, they have plenty more doses ready to go. Moderna, in a statement on Thursday, emphasized that it has shipped these vaccines to distributors and will collaborate with them to ensure that the shots reach pharmacies and other providers. Cencora, a distributor, has recently begun to receive and ship out the vaccines. However, representatives from other distributors, namely McKesson and Cardinal Health, have not yet responded to CNBC’s request for comment.

This new round of Covid-19 vaccines marks a departure from the government’s previous role. Instead of the government purchasing and distributing the shots, providers are now responsible for buying the vaccines from distributors or directly from the manufacturers.

Nate Rockers, the owner of Rockers Pharmacy in Paola, Kansas, described this transition as a “whole new territory” for Covid vaccines. Providers now have to consider the demand for the shots and bear the responsibility for any unused doses, which could potentially cause delays. Theresa Tolle, the owner of Bay Street Pharmacy in Sebastian, Florida, foresees a more streamlined process over time but acknowledges that people searching for the shots want immediate access. Pharmacists like Rockers and Tolle are handling calls and explaining that they are unable to administer the shots yet, even if they wanted to.

Tolle stated that the unprecedented nature of the rollout has created obstacles. She mentioned that many people fail to realize the significant differences in distribution this time around because they have become accustomed to the vaccines being readily available in the past.

Obtaining Covid vaccines for children appears to be an even greater challenge. CVS expects to receive doses for children later in the week, while Walmart anticipates them to arrive after the adult vaccines. Walgreens’ website indicates that appointments for children under 12 years old will not begin until Friday, September 29.