Gaping holes at shoulders

I am working on a vest, knit in one piece from the bottom up, and the pattern instructions indicate 3-needle bind off at shoulders and then to pick up the remaining live stitches to finish knitting the collar. The live stitches do not meet up with the bound off shoulder stiches so I have elongated stitches at each shoulder. I ignored them so now I have big, gaping holes at the shoulders. Should I have picked up those elongated stitches and knit them? If so what’s the best way so avoid holes? I have encountered this problem before but have never seen it addressed in a pattern. Thanks in advance for your help!
-Mski

You can pick up extra sts in that area, then decrease them on the next row.