By Tim Mastro

DOVER — As Delaware enters Phase 1B of its vaccination plan, the state is no longer holding back second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, state officials confirmed on Tuesday.

Leaders said they will launch an online registration system Wednesday morning for people 65 and older in an effort to vaccinate them by appointment at drive-thru clinics as early as Friday.

Registration is available  here for Delawareans 65 and up.

The five drive-thru vaccinations clinics are scheduled for Friday at the Delaware City Division of Motor Vehicles and on Saturday and Sunday at both the Delaware City and Georgetown DMV locations.

That begins the official transition to Phase 1B of the state’s vaccination plan after a pilot launch this weekend created confusion when eligible senior citizens and front line workers were alerted through churches, senior centers and word of mouth to get vaccines.

Gov. John Carney said Tuesday during a virtual town hall that he owned the confusion that arose after events in Kent County, but applauded the volunteers who vaccinated nearly 10,000 people in three days. He said the state sought to step up efforts as vaccines sat on shelves with a slow moving roll out of Phase 1A.

According to the DPH’s vaccine tracker, Delaware has administered more than half of the 77,600 doses it has received from the federal government. The state is dependent on scheduled shipments of additional vaccine to ensure those who have already received their first dose can get their second in time.

The Trump administration first asked states to keep second doses in reserve as part of its original rollout plan, but reversed course Jan. 12, directing states to make all doses immediately available.

It is recommended the second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine be given 21 days after the first dose is administered while the Moderna version of the COVID-19 vaccine should be administered 28 days after the first.

“We are trusting the federal government will have adequate supply for second doses,” said Jen Brestel, a spokeswoman for the DPH, on Tuesday.

Gov. Carney said Tuesday evening the state is getting between 15,000 to 20,000 doses of vaccine weekly and noted that the federal government has said states thatprove their ability to vaccinate lots of people are more likely to be sent increased allocations as they become available.

“We’re begging for more vaccine and demonstrating that we can get it out there and get it into peoples’ arms,” he said. “The faster we do that, the sooner we’ll get back to a more normal life here in our state.”

When an individual receives the first dose of a vaccination, they are given a card explaining when the second shot needs to be administered.

While the state distributed those cards this holiday weekend during a three-day vaccination clinic hosted by the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles’ Dover location, the Delaware State News was contacted by several individuals who said they did not receive a follow-up appointment or any information regarding their second doses.

“Appointments are not made for second doses as the person does not have to return to the same site for the second dose,” Ms. Brestel said. “They just need to be given vaccine from the same vaccine manufacturer (Moderna or Pfizer) for both doses.”

DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay said the new registration system will make getting the second dose easier, especially since it will keep email addresses on file, leading to automated reminders about second doses.

“Everyone will get a card that will tell you your date and what type of vaccine you got and when you need it again,” she said. “One of the best things about this new system and the registration system is you have to have an email address to register. ... When you get your email address, you’re going to get reminders.”

Dr. Rattay said by the time most people will need their second dose, there should be more options to receive it, such as at pharmacies or more drive-thru clinics.

The state has administered 46,141 doses of vaccine with 31,459 doses remaining as of Monday at 11:59 p.m., according to information in the state’s immunization information system DelVAX. However due to reporting delays, the number of doses already administered is likely higher.

The DPH attributed delays to healthcare provider lulls in reporting doses administered to DelVAX. Doses remaining, therefore, is likely to be lower than is shown.”

Ms. Brestel said the state has not wasted any vaccine as the DPH is conscious of expiration dates once it is taken out of cold storage.

“Once the vial is pierced, it must be used within a specific number of hours,” Ms. Brestel said. “Also after removed from the cold storage, Moderna must be used within 30 days. Therefore if an unpierced vial has reached that limit, it must be used.”

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the state sought patience from those included in Phase 1B, as more than 200,000 Delawareans qualify for vaccination in this phase and said multiple options for residents to be vaccinated will begin this week and then expand in coming weeks.

Phase 1B also includes frontline essential workers such as fire, police, correctional officers, teachers and education staff (including child care providers), U.S. postal workers, food manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, and grocery store workers. Efforts will continue to vaccinate Phase 1A health care personnel and nursing home residents and staff who have not yet been vaccinated.

State officials cautioned it could take weeks or months for all 200,000 Phase 1B eligible individuals to be vaccinated.

State officials also said they expect more requests for appointments than doses available this weekend. Appointments will be based on age, medical condition and other risk factors, DPH said.

Delawareans age 65 and older who request an appointment but do not immediately receive an invitation email will be placed on a waiting list for future events. The DPH said multiple requests will not increase the chance of receiving an appointment and any individuals who arrive without an appointment for this weekend’s events should not expect to be vaccinated.

For those who receive appointments, the DPH asked that people dress so their upper arm is exposed and not to exit their vehicle to remove a coat or shirt.

People who have received a flu, shingles or other vaccination recently cannot get a COVID-19 vaccination within 14 days of the prior vaccination.

Ms. Brestel outlined the check-in process for those who are registered for a drive-thru clinic.

“The person will first reach registration to check any paperwork and receive safety information. They will then move through the line to a screening station to and answer health questions, such as allergy information, etc.,” she said. “Then they move to the vaccination station, and lastly the waiting lot where they are observed between 15-30 minutes depending on history of previous allergic reactions.”