Every vaccination site has a different ‘leftover dose’ policy. Here’s what we know
UPDATED 3/16/2021
Do “leftover doses” really exist?
Some people say they were able to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida even though they don’t meet the governor’s vaccine criteria.
So, should you hang around a site, maybe at the end of the day, with the hope of getting a leftover shot? You’ll need to be lucky.
Pharmacies, state and federal officials say extra doses are rare. And when a site has leftover vaccine supply at the end of the day, the policy is to get shots in the arms of people who meet Florida’s eligibility criteria.
Still, you might also be in the right place at the right time if a vaccination site has extras and you happen to fit the bill. There is a website called Dr. B that helps match people with leftover doses but the site isn’t active in Florida yet.
So, for now, here are some things you need to know about extra doses:
What is the extra-doses policy at federal sites like MDC North?
Marty Bahamonde, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said it’s rare for there to be any unused doses at the end of the day, and if there is, it’s usually one or two.
He said there are usually five doses available per vaccine vial, and once a vial is opened, the doses must be administered within six hours. Unlike other vaccination sites, federal locations do not require appointments.
To avoid leftover doses, he said the staff at FEMA-run sites at Miami Dade College North and the two pop-up sites that move across the county are instructed to open vials depending on how many eligible people are in line. If at day’s end, doses are still available with no one eligible in line, Bahamonde said workers are told to check the list of people who pre-registered for a vaccine and contact them.
That includes people who registered through myvaccine.fl.gov or people who pre-registered at the site previously because they met the criteria but were turned away because doses ran out.
Bahamonde said the staff is also instructed to contact hospitals or law enforcement offices in the area to see if any employees are eligible and want the vaccine.
What’s the policy at pharmacies in South Florida?
Pharmacies including CVS Health and Walmart say end-of-the day leftovers are rare because appointments are scheduled based on supply. But missed appointments happen. And that means extra doses for others.
If there are unused doses at the end of the day, here’s what happens:
▪ CVS Health, which owns Navarro Discount Pharmacy, CVS y mas and traditional CVS stores says pharmacists are instructed to contact eligible patients. Every pharmacy maintains a profile for each patient. It includes information pharmacists could use to determine if the patient matches Florida’s vaccine criteria. The other alternative is for pharmacists to offer doses to employees who qualify for the vaccine.
▪ Walmart, which also owns Sam’s Club, says it will offer unused doses “to individuals, including our associates, who fall within that priority to administer the remaining doses.” The big box retailer did not indicate how it notifies shoppers that vaccines are available. Some social media users recommend calling your local Walmart and Sam’s Club stores and asking to be placed on a “waste avoidance list” to be notified about leftover doses. Some social media users say it works, including for people who don’t meet the state’s vaccine criteria yet, though not every store offers it.
▪ Publix has an “end of doses at night” procedure. The process allows for any leftover doses at the end of the day to be given to eligible employees to make sure the vaccines don’t go to waste. The Lakeland-based company did not say whether it has a procedure for customers though some people on social media have said they were able to snag a dose at the end of the day.
▪ Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Winn-Dixie and Fresco y Más, say it’s rare for there to be extra doses because of cancellations or no-shows. The Jacksonville-based company says it doesn’t maintain a waiting list for leftover doses. Pharmacists are instructed, however, to use their patient database system to contact people who meet state and federal eligibility guidelines. Employees of the grocery stores who qualify for the vaccine can also get the shot.
What’s the policy at county-run and state-run vaccine sites?
▪ Miami-Dade County, which runs the Tropical Park and Zoo Miami sites, told NBC6 it follows a discard policy that prioritizes healthcare workers on the site and those 65 or older, and eventually allows leftover doses to go to anyone at a site, regardless of their age.
▪ State-run vaccination sites in South Florida, including Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Marlins Park in Miami and Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale, operate on a “no waste” policy, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which is tasked with the state’s vaccine distribution. This means workers will open vials as needed, depending on how many eligible people with appointments are in line, the division said.
Univision last month recorded several lucky folks under 65 receiving leftover doses at Marlins Park, despite the state’s policy.
“Individuals should not rely on “leftover” doses to secure a vaccine at state-supported vaccination sites,” the division said in an email to the Miami Herald Tuesday. “Vaccine doses are strategically thawed and used to ensure there is not an excess at the end of the site’s operations for the day.”
State-run sites in Miami-Dade County include Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and Marlins Park in Miami, a parking lot-turned-vaccine site at 1551 NW First Ave., near Miami’s Overtown area; and Oak Grove Park community center, 690 NE 159th St.
State-run sites in Broward County include Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs, Markham Park in Sunrise, Tree Tops Park in Davie, Trade Winds Park in Coconut Creek, Central Regional Park in Lauderhill, and Broward College’s Coconut Creek campus.
This story was originally published March 8, 2021 at 4:54 PM.
