Three hundred coronavirus vaccines were delivered to Newark City and were considered unusable because they were not refrigerated in a timely manner, said a local health official.
The matter is being investigated, said Mark Wade, director of the Department of Community Health and Welfare.
“We have reviewed our delivery and assessment procedures and protocols, which will be monitored closely to prevent this from happening again,” said Wade in a statement.
TAPinto Newark reported the problem for the first time. A city spokesman did not immediately respond when asked if any unusable vaccines had been administered.
It was not clear which vaccine was being investigated. The city, however, inoculated ministers during a news conference at the Newark Department of Health and Welfare with the Modern vaccine.
The Modern vaccine should be stored between -13 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC. It can be stored in the refrigerator at temperatures between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 days before the bottles are used.
The city has administered vaccines at locations in Newark, including pop-up locations.
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Rebecca Panico can be found at [email protected].