States May Need to Pester Thousands of People About a Second COVID-19 Vaccine Dose

NBC News reports that ensuring thousands of Americans who have received their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine return for their second dose is a challenge for U.S. states. Most people are coming back for their second shots, with the Texas Department of State Health Services estimating that just 0.3 percent of the 1.9 million people inoculated in the state thus far were late for their second shot. Meanwhile, 5 percent of Oregonians who received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination are late for their second dose. Yet there is no guarantee that everyone will be diligent about completing the vaccination process on time. "The vast majority of people due for their second doses have gotten them, but there some who haven't and are now past that six-week mark when it is recommended," said the Texas Department of State Health Services' Chris Van Deusen. "We definitely want people to get their booster doses on time because they are important to boosting immunity." Paul Offit at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia explained that states, counties, and healthcare providers will need to rely on a combination of newer technology, like smartphone alerts, and older approaches such as phone calls, to ensure people are properly reminded.