Faced with a mounting count of wasted COVID-19 doses in Shelby County and a new allegation that some shots were potentially pilfered by a volunteer worker at a drive-up site, the head of the health department, Dr. Alisa Haushalter, resigned Friday. 

"This is an appropriate path forward at this juncture based on what has happened and based on what Director Haushalter wants to do," County Mayor Lee Harris said after a lengthy meeting with county commissioners. 

As Memphians bundled up and stayed indoors last week during the winter storms, two other storms were a-brewing, as they say, in the public sphere. More than 2,000 unused COVID vaccine doses went into the garbage -- a major waste blamed on weather and miscommunication. In addition, the Shelby County Health Department ended up with a massive stockpile of more than 30,000 doses, that ran afoul of state policy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the Mid-South economy to take a hit. Beverly Robertson, President and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber, says that small businesses and the hospitality industry in Memphis are some of the most economically affected businesses. 

The City of Memphis abruptly took over major COVID-19 vaccination duties this week after the state found internal breakdowns in communication and procedures at the Shelby County Health Department resulted in the ruin of thousands of doses. 

Mayor Jim Strickland says the city has moved with breakneck speed to get a planned 40,000 shots in arms by week’s end, including thousands dedicated for the first time for teachers.