U.S. health officials today have extended the "use by" date for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by six weeks, potentially commuting the sentence of 108,000 doses statewide due to expire in June.
That still leaves providers scrambling to get shots in arms — or to get doses to those who can.
Hear Dr. Cara Christ's Interview With Lauren Gilger On The Show
With vaccinations on the decline and ample supplies of Pfizer and Moderna available, demand for Johnson & Johnson doses has been weak.
Unless providers can increase inoculations, Arizona Department of Health Services guidelines recommend sending shots to providers that can or, failing that, disposing of expired doses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bars providers from transferring doses across international borders, but the Department of Health Services is in talks with federal partners about possibly sending excess vaccines to Mexico.
The Show spoke with state health director Dr. Cara Christ for more about the extension and her concerns.
