Oklahoma To Get a 16% Increase In Vaccine Supply Starting Next Week

The state said the federal government plans to give a three week notice about how many vaccines will be shipped to Oklahoma.

That's a change from just a few days heads up under "operation warp speed."

“We need to know this information to be smart about what resources we bring to bear on this,” said Keith Reed, the Deputy Commissioner of Health. “It doesn’t do much good to give vaccine to partners then see vaccine decrease in the next weeks to where we can’t support them.”

On top of a three week notice of vaccine allotments the state has also been told there will be a 16% increase in its vaccine supply, primarily of Moderna’s vaccine.

“This equates to a total 103,350 doses expected next week combined from all sources,” said Reed.

The state is in the early stage of the second phase of its vaccine distribution plan.

Reed noted that Oklahomans 65 and older are the priority, right now.

“We know that this particular group we are focusing on is disproportionately affected and continues to be by COVID-19,” said Reed.

Only about 30% of that 65 and older population has been vaccinated. Reed mentioned until that number is higher, they don’t plan on moving to open the appointments up to the next group.

“The use of technology to assist in scheduling is not necessarily the best match for this age group and I feel like it would be unfair to this group for us to too quickly bring on another group and create unfair competition for these appointments,” said Reed.

Reed also said a majority of next week’s doses will go towards the booster because we will hit the four-week mark of when we started large scale vaccinations.