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Vaccine appointments in Mecklenburg Co. back on track after winter weather threatens shipment delays

Icy conditions were impacting vaccine shipping hubs for the southeastern United States, causing some providers to receive incomplete weekly shipments or none at all.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Winter weather continues to hamper the race to put COVID-19 vaccines into arms. On Friday public health officials announced that the COVID-19 vaccine delivery for the week of Feb. 9 would be delayed and delivery was not expected until Feb. 15. However, the COVID-19 vaccine shipment did arrive on time and appointments will not be affected, according to officials.  

According to the county, as many as 1,700 appointments would have been postponed through Monday. The impacts were primarily to second-dose appointments conducted through StarMed, but first-dose shots scheduled there on Monday morning would've been delayed as well.

The county said it will notify the affected patients. Meantime, its other weekend vaccine events are still on.

StarMed's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Arin Piramzadian said it's just another instance of a pandemic pivot.

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"The best feeling in the world is calling someone and letting them know we have the vaccine available for them. This is really disheartening," Piramzadian said. "Unfortunately, it's still the middle of a pandemic. Things happen. Weather happens. What we've learned during this pandemic is you have to adapt and overcome it."

Mecklenburg Public Health is just one of many vaccine providers across the southeast that are dealing with a ripple effect from winter weather.

Icy conditions at FedEx and UPS vaccine shipping hubs in Memphis and Louisville have delayed the vaccine to several states.

RELATED: Severe weather could cause vaccine shipping delays in South Carolina

South Carolina was included as well in the winter woes, with at least 14 vaccine providers reporting incomplete or missing direct shipments from Pfizer earlier this week.

Friday afternoon, the Department of Health and Environmental Control confirmed those providers finally got their late doses Thursday night.

It was a relief, but DHEC's State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said the whole situation was an important reminder.

"We do have to continue to be very careful in how we manage our vaccine inventory and ensure that every last drop is safely administered," Bell said.

RELATED: Where to receive your coronavirus vaccine in the Carolinas

Both Bell and Piramzadian said, for those having to wait a little longer for their second shots, there is more flexibility in how far apart the two vaccine doses can be administered.

The CDC recently extended the window for the second dose to 6 weeks after a first dose, and if a person has to go even longer than that, they do not have to restart the vaccine series.

Have a relative or friend in another state and want to know when they can get vaccinated? Visit NBC News' Plan Your Vaccine site to find out about each state's vaccine rollout plan.

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