Associated Press
Brooklyn pharmacist Ambar Keluskar administered his last remaining Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses Friday at Rossi Pharmacy in East New York, Brooklyn.
Keluskar had been vaccinating about eight people per day with J&J doses before his supply ran out. The rise of local vaccine mandates has increased demand for Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot version, he said. Some customers have requested it so they will be fully vaccinated in time for an employer-mandated deadline or upcoming travel plans, he said. Now he cannot find a way to restock the vaccines.
“It’s just not something we’re able to find, source or even refer patients to, because we don’t know any facilities in the area that still have J&J in stock,” he said. “It’s definitely still a vaccine in demand, and not all of those patients are going to switch over to Moderna and Pfizer. They might just go without.”
Federal health officials halted Johnson & Johnson shipments to states in the spring to clear a backlog of unused doses before they expired. But the authorities have not indicated any plans to restart deliveries.
That poses a growing problem in New York, where providers are running low or out of their supply. The state Department of Health is responsible for most local distribution of the vaccines, which it gets from the federal stockpile not from the companies that make them.
Department spokesman Jeffrey Hammond said that, as is the case in other states, New York has been unable to order additional J&J vaccine doses from the federal government since early May.
“All Johnson & Johnson vaccines previously ordered by New York state have been shipped to providers, and when possible these vaccines were redistributed from providers who [could not] use all of their supply before it expires to other providers who have requested more doses,” Hammond said in a statement.
Keluskar said he turned to nearby hospitals to get his hands on extra doses—to no avail.
Brian Conway, a spokesman for the Greater New York Hospital Association, said the industry group has been trying to find excess J&J vaccines for several weeks. The association represents more than 160 hospitals and health systems statewide.
“We believe there’s no supply left,” Conway said.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment. Johnson & Johnson also did not respond to a request for comment.
In East New York, Keluskar is anxious to once again be able to get J&J doses in his customers’ arms.
“At this point someone needs to recrunch the numbers,” he said, “and see where the vaccines are sitting on shelves and get those reallocated to places where there’s a demand for it. This seems like such a solvable problem.”
Related Article 
U.S. officials flag 'small' reaction risk with J&J vaccine 
With OK from experts, some states resume use of J&J vaccine 
Oregon: CDC investigating woman's death after J&J vaccine 
FDA inspection found problems at factory making J&J vaccine J&J vaccine to remain in limbo while officials seek evidence J&J vaccine pause a minor blip, but efforts must press on, experts say 
U.S. recommends 'pause' for J&J vaccine over clot reports 
J&J vaccine problems hamper U.S. military vaccines overseas Company at heart of J&J vaccine woes has series of citations 
CDC endorses J&J vaccine, now offering third option
Source link : https://www.modernhealthcare.com/supply-chain/jj-vaccine-shortage-sends-pharmacists-scavenger-hunt
