The California State Epidemiologist recommended local health offices last night to stop administering a single batch of COVID-19 vaccines after a disproportionate number of serious adverse reactions were reported at a vaccination clinic in San Diego.
The lot, Moderna 041L20A, consists of 330,000 doses, equivalent to a week of vaccines for the state, and up to 90% of the doses that Humboldt County Public Health has on hand for vaccinations at its clinics this week.
Humboldt County public health officials administered “hundreds” of doses of the batch, said health officer Dr. Ian Hoffman, with no serious or unusual reactions observed.
The batch number is written on the COVID-19 Vaccination Registration Card given to individuals at the time of vaccination. Any adverse reaction would occur immediately, usually within the first few minutes and certainly within 24 hours.
No vaccine in that batch has been administered by Public Health or its partners in the past 24 hours, and no vaccine in that batch will be administered until or unless the state determines that the batch is safe for use.
Humboldt County Public Health has 3,500 doses of Moderna 041L20A in its freezer, 1,600 designated for first doses and 1,900 designated for second doses. Local providers have additional doses, but “with no replacement options at the moment,” said Dr. Hoffman.
Public Health clinics scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week may be impacted by the break. People with appointments or invitations to be vaccinated will be contacted if appointments need to be canceled or rescheduled.
Dr. Hoffman also said that it is possible for the state to conclude that the vaccine is safe and release the rest of the batch. “Obviously, the goal for all of us is to keep people safe,” said Hoffman. “We are going to take a break as recommended until we hear more from the state, but without the replacement doses, we are balancing one set of risks against another.”
The batch investigation is conducted by the manufacturer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.
To view the California Department of Public Health press release, visit this link: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR21-021.aspx
The Joint Information Center will have additional information on this tomorrow.
For the latest information on COVID-19, visit cdc.gov or cdph.ca.gov. Local information is available at humboldtgov.org or during business hours, by contacting [email protected] or by calling 707-441-5000.