The California epidemiologist recommended that state health care providers pause the administration of a batch of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine due to possible allergic reactions.
State Epidemiologist Erica Pan said in a statement on Sunday, that “a greater than normal number of possible allergic reactions” was reported with doses of a batch of Moderna administered at a community vaccination clinic.
Less than 10 people needed medical attention in a 24-hour period, Pan said.
More than 330,000 doses of the batch were distributed to 287 providers across the state. Shipments arrived between January 5 and 12.
Pan said providers should stop administering vaccines from the lot until an investigation by the state, Moderna, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration is done.
Moderna did not immediately return a request for comment from The Hill.
“Out of extreme caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use another inventory of available vaccines and pause the administration of vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A until investigation by CDC, FDA, Moderna and the state is complete” , Pan said in a statement.
“We will provide an update as we learn more,” Pan said.
While it is unclear how many reactions have occurred, The Associated Press reported that six health professionals in San Diego had allergic reactions to the vaccines they received on January 14 at a mass vaccination center. The site has been temporarily closed and is now using other vaccines.
The risk of a serious adverse reaction is very small, Pan noted. Data from a similar vaccine show that the expected rate of anaphylaxis is about 1 in 100,000.
The break comes as California presses to launch the COVID-19 vaccines, while the state is dealing with another record-breaking outbreak that still threatens its hospital capacity.
The state administered more than 1 million doses of coronavirus, according to CDC data, or 2,716 doses per 100,000 people. Last week, the state expanded vaccine eligibility for anyone aged 65 and over.
California reported 2.97 million coronavirus cases on Monday, and more than 33,000 deaths from coronavirus.