Philadelphia has successfully administered 1,000 Pfizer coronavirus vaccines before they expired on Thursday, city officials said.
As of 2 p.m., more than 1,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine from the Philadelphia allocation were administered at FEMA’s Pennsylvania Convention Center, according to Department of Public Health spokesman James Garrow.
When the clinic opened Thursday morning, about 900 doses needed to be administered by the afternoon before they expired. Officials said every one of those doses were administered successfully and none of the vaccines were destroyed. The Center City Vaccination Center (CCVC) continues to administer doses that aren’t in danger of expiring and are accepting walk-ups and appointments through 5 p.m. Thursday.
Earlier in the day, officials warned that around 1,000 Pfizer coronavirus vaccines could become unusable if not injected by Thursday afternoon, down from 4,000 the day prior.
Get Philly local news, weather forecasts, sports and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia newsletters.
Garrow told NBC10 partner KYW Newsradio that the surplus of vaccines at a number of city clinics came as supply outpaced demand, and officials hoped unvaccinated people would make their way to the Pennsylvania Convention Center to get their first shot and use up the excess.
"We have about 4,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine that will expire by the end of the week, so we're really hoping to get through it on Wednesday and Thursday," Garrow told KYW Wednesday.
He said the city is trying to inoculate people who are still on the fence about getting their shots, adding that the convention center is accepting walk-ins and that the process is quick and easy.
"You get your vaccine, you wait for 15 minutes, and you're out the door," Garrow said. "It's truly a professional operation, giving out a lifesaving vaccine for zero cost."
