Since the commencement of the vaccine distribution, numerous accounts have emerged regarding COVID-19 vaccines going unused and expiring. These vaccines require strict cold storage, and if they thaw for extended periods, they become ineffective. Although some stories about these wasted doses are uplifting—like a team of healthcare workers administering expiring vaccines to drivers stranded in a snowstorm—others are disheartening, as certain hospitals have discarded surplus doses at day’s end.
Now that the “expiring vaccine” trend has gained attention, some individuals are camping outside pharmacies and vaccination sites in hopes of obtaining leftover doses. A young woman named Mia Johnson has gone viral on social media for successfully securing a vaccine at a local pharmacy, a process she playfully dubbed “vaccine hunting.” In her popular TikTok video, Johnson exclaimed, “We did it! We went vaccine hunting!” In January, she and her friend formed an informal queue at their nearby pharmacy, where they learned that all scheduled appointments had been filled, but there were eight leftover vaccines set to expire soon—both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can only remain unrefrigerated for a few hours. Johnson was fortunate enough to receive her shot that day.
The reactions to this video are quite polarized. Many individuals express relief that the vaccine was administered rather than wasted, echoing the sentiments of a healthcare worker who commented, “my hospital doesn’t allow us to use our excess doses. The amount of wasted doses due to no-shows is heartbreaking.” Conversely, others voice concerns about fairness. Melissa Goldstein, a bioethics professor at George Washington University, noted that the chaotic U.S. vaccine distribution system primarily benefits those who are tech-savvy and able to spend hours waiting—often young, healthy individuals—while seniors in need of vaccination may not have the same opportunity.
Even Johnson recognizes her privilege in this situation, admitting, “I’m aware that I have the socio-economic means to wait all day for this vaccine. Vaccination centers need to improve their outreach to the communities they serve.” At Kedren Community Health Center in Los Angeles, knowledge of expiring vaccine supplies has led to lines of hopeful individuals waiting for the chance to receive a shot.
On social media platforms like Facebook, groups for “Vaccine Seekers” have emerged, allowing users to share insights on where to find vaccines nearing expiration. The NOLA Vaccine Seekers group, one of the first established, states: “COVID-19 vaccines are a crucial resource, and unfortunately, many doses are wasted daily. We aim to gather and share information about locations where anyone can get vaccinated without restrictions and not at someone else’s expense.”
Out of curiosity, I joined a couple of these Facebook groups in my area and found that while they are small and somewhat inactive, they function as a fragmented network for sharing tips on where to find leftover vaccines, if you have the time and flexibility to drive around hoping for luck.
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In summary, as people seek out the COVID-19 vaccine, stories of “vaccine hunters” have surfaced, highlighting both the creative and contentious aspects of vaccine distribution. While some are grateful to ensure that doses do not go to waste, others express concern about the fairness of access to these vital resources.