The San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Health says concerns over a large quantity of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine could cause a temporary setback in the distribution of second doses.
County health officials say they are following state instructions and have stopped administering the vaccine in question after reports of possible allergic reactions in several people; however, the state will not immediately replace these doses and this may delay some people from receiving their second injection.
The county of San Luis Obispo received 4,400 doses of the vaccine Moderna Lote 041L20A. None was administered.
Health officials say the delay will not affect the first vaccination visits and that receiving the second dose a few weeks later than expected will not be harmful.
Those waiting for the second dose will receive a text message or email from the county when it becomes available.
The CDC, FDA, Moderna and the State of California are investigating after some people reported adverse effects after receiving the specific vaccine batch.
Last week, at a super vaccine station installed at Petco Park in San Diego, six health workers experienced allergic reactions and the place was temporarily closed.
California Department of Public Health officials say that from January 5 to 12, more than 330,000 doses of Moderna’s specific batch were distributed to 287 providers across California.
The Santa Bárbara County Department of Public Health says it has also received part of the Moderna Lote 041L20A vaccine, but none has yet been administered.
UC San Francisco infectious disease specialist Dr. Peter Chin-Hong says the reports should not prevent others from getting the vaccine and if you haven’t had reactions to the vaccines in the past, you probably won’t have them with the COVID- 19.
“The risk of a serious allergic reaction is very small, especially in someone with a history of it,” said Dr. Chin-Hong. “It’s tiny compared to the risk of just having COVID-19.”
The CDC says that the common side effects of the vaccine are expected and may include pain or swelling at the injection site, fever, chills, fatigue and headache.