As Oklahomans wait for the state’s limited COVID-19 vaccine supply, more than 62,000 doses allocated for long-term care residents and staff remain in freezers.
The state Department of Health provided 97,500 doses to CVS and Walgreens, who were contracted by the federal government to vaccinate vulnerable residents and workers at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, veteran centers and other longterm care facilities.
Barely one-third of those doses have been administered, according to federal data. The rest remain in freezers. And residents, workers, family members and state officials are in the dark about which facilities have received the vaccine and who’s next.
Beyond the long-term care residents and workers still waiting, Oklahomans age 65 and older are hoping to nab an appointment at a vaccination clinic, even if it means driving for hours. Teachers, who were moved up in the state’s priority populations after many spoke out on social media about the need to get back into the classroom, could still be weeks away from their first dose.
The state has access to a federal database that compiles information from the two companies. Oklahoma Watch reviewed the federal data, which was outdated, unclear and inaccurate.