Ongoing frustrations at not being able to get a COVID-19 vaccine because of shortages can be traced  to mistakes made  by vaccine providers and poor communication from the state, writes Justine McDaniel for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Some providers have been mistakenly using second shot doses as first doses instead. That problem was only discovered last week but the practice has been going on for weeks.

The state is fixing the problem. Those whose vaccine appointments were affected by the shortage should be inoculated by mid-March.

Second shots should be available to residents within six weeks from the date of their first shot.

U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-5) noted the shortages were the result of not having a national vaccine distribution.  

“This whole building-the-airplane-while-flying — it is just not working well for anyone,” said the Delaware County Democrat.

Providers mistakenly giving out the second dose  did not realize they were doing anything wrong, according to acting Health Secretary Alison Beam.

Beam said “controls” are now in place to prevent that mistake.

Vaccine providers will notify anyone who needs to reschedule. Those with existing appointments who have not been contacted should show up as scheduled.

Read more about the vaccine shortage at The Philadelphia Inquirer.