The Tennessee Department of Health announced on Monday (February 22) that more than 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines were thrown out recently in Shelby County after expiring. Officials have not given an explanation as to how the vaccines expired; however, vaccination sites were closed after multiple rounds of winter storms hit the state.
According to WSMV, the Governor's Unified-Command Group sent state health personnel to Shelby County to provide support, review procedures, and assess the county's vaccine inventory. No additional details regarding the expired vaccine doses have been reported, but the Tennessee Department of Health is expected to release more information on Tuesday.
After being closed by the storms, vaccination sites across the state are reopening to administer doses to eligible residents. On Monday, Tennessee residents 65 and older in counties under the state's health department became eligible to receive the vaccine. Staff members at kindergarten through 12th grade schools as well as workers at child care facilities are also part of the new group available to receive vaccines.
Last week, Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said the state has administered over 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to frontline workers and residents ages 70 and older.
"While we remain focused on our seniors, who are the highest-risk population," she said, "we're able to expand vaccine eligibility to these additional groups as our supply continues to grow each week."
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