OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — As demand for the COVID-19 vaccine goes up, supply is strained worldwide. To make supplies go further, U.K. officials made the controversial decision to delay people's second doses, to get more people their first doses.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses, both about 21 to 28 days apart for up to 95% effectiveness. Health systems across Nebraska began administering their second Pfizer doses this week. But would the state consider delaying those second doses to get more people their first?
"It's not an option for Nebraska. We plan to follow the manufacturers' guidelines regarding how to administer the vaccine product and follow the Emergency Use Authorization. We don't want to stray from what the study was because we want to make sure we get the best coverage that we can," Angie Ling with the Department of Health and Human Services said.
State officials say it would be nice to have more vaccine products, but Nebraska's average shipment of 23,000 vaccines a week still puts the state in a comfortable position.
The state is still vaccinating those in group 1A. Next week the state will announce plans on how individuals in group 1B, those 75-year-old and older, can register to get vaccinated.