Delicate COVID-19 vaccines slow rollout – leading to shots given out of turn or wasted

"We can't get the vaccine out fast enough; we have people dying. But, at the same time, we have to get it right," said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers.

The added risk of losing doses because of quick expiration is another thing "causing angst," Hannan said. "You can't just draw it up and let it sit. It can't just sit out like that."
Federal officials have released sparse data about who is getting vaccinated, but state information has shown significant variation in vaccination rates depending on the facility. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Jan. 4 said New York City's public hospital system had used only 31% of its allocated vaccines, while private health systems NewYork-Presbyterian and Northwell Health had used 99% and 62%, respectively.

"When you target a priority group, it's inefficient. When you open it up to a larger group, it's efficient … but you're not going to have enough supply," Hannan said. "You still have the challenge of getting those health care workers vaccinated and no matter any way you slice it, you still have limited supply. You can't please everyone."