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NOTE: The following information was published Feb, 17, 2021. For current vaccination information, visit LVHN.org/vaccines.
It is with regret that due to a lack of adequate vaccine supply received from the state of Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) must cancel and reschedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments for people scheduled to receive their second dose of the Moderna vaccine on Friday, Feb. 19. About 1,500 appointments will have to be rescheduled. As has been the case for the past nine weeks, appointments were scheduled based on the supply of vaccine LVHN anticipated to receive from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. However, LVHN received notification from the Department of Health that the health network will not be receiving the amount of vaccine anticipated. To date, LVHN has administered more than 80,000 vaccinations correctly and has never administered second doses as first doses.
“Like the people of our community, we are frustrated that vaccine supply continues to be low, and we sympathize with those who were eager to get vaccinated but now have to wait a little longer,” said LVHN President and Chief Executive Officer Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA. “At LVHN, we have the ability to vaccinate 30,000 people per week. We are ready to get to work. All we need is the vaccine to get started. Until then, we will continue to work with elected officials to find solutions that make vaccine more available to the communities we serve.”
LVHN patients who have an appointment to receive their second dose of the Moderna vaccine on Feb. 19 should call LVHN’s COVID-19 Hotline at 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD) to reschedule their appointment. Patients who have a MyLVHN account will be notified through the health network’s patient portal that they must reschedule. However, these patients also must call the COVID-19 Hotline to reschedule. Those who do not have a MyLVHN account will be notified by phone. When vaccine supply becomes available, impacted patients will have scheduling priority before appointments are made available to others who are currently eligible for vaccination per the state’s guidelines.
LVHN will work with those whose second vaccination was canceled to reschedule their appointment as quickly as possible. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the second Moderna vaccination is effective if administered anytime between 28 and 42 days after the first dose,” says LVHN Chief Infection Control and Prevention Officer Alex Benjamin, MD. “LVHN will do everything possible within our control to meet that target.”
Appointments for people who have an appointment to receive their second Moderna dose after Feb. 19 will be held as scheduled because LVHN will receive another shipment of vaccine. Appointments for people who have an appointment to receive their first vaccination will be held as scheduled. These people will receive the Pfizer vaccine.