UPMC supports recommendation to not hold back second dose of COVID-19 vaccine

PITTSBURGH — Top officials at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said they support the Biden administration’s recommendation to not delay the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The New York Times is also reporting that the Department of Health and Human Services wants to send existing doses to states to provide the first dosage of the vaccine.

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An infectious disease doctor said you can receive the second dose anytime, and does not necessarily need to be within three or four weeks after the first dose.

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He said while it’s not optimal, you’ll still get protection from the second dose whenever you get it.

UPMC leaders said they are ready to give the vaccine to as many people as they can.

“This is a big undertaking. This is the D-Day of vaccination. We are trying to get hundreds of millions of people vaccinated and it’s going to take smarts and cooperation. We stand ready to do that,” said UPCM Medical Director Don Yealy.

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