On Sunday night, state officials said these doses should be stored after a large number of possible serious allergic reactions were reported at a community vaccination event in San Diego.
According to Kings County Public Health, the ARIA Community Health Centers have administered 200 doses of that batch, but have not noticed any serious allergic reaction.
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“The state’s decision to pause administration based on a single report reflects the scrutiny these vaccines are under and an absolute commitment to safety at the state and local levels,” Kings County health officials said in a statement to the press.
Health officials in Tulare County also confirmed that they used some of the 3,500 doses they received, but no one had a negative reaction during the observation window 15 to 30 minutes after the shot.
“We have had no reports of serious reactions and if they occur, they are likely to occur in that period of observation,” said Tulare County HHSA spokeswoman Carrie Monteiro.
In the letter sent to the suppliers, the state adds that there were no other reported events related to the lot.
While waiting for further guidance from the state, Tulare County Public Health will maintain the doses it has not used.
They say the break should not affect vaccination clinics they have already scheduled for this week, but it could impact others.
“We ask the public to be patient with us,” said Monteiro. “We want to distribute more vaccines, but we still have a very limited stock, so having to carry out that batch may prevent us from getting more clinics scheduled in the coming weeks. However, we hope to act
quickly and get more vaccine in stock so we don’t have that lull. “
The Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency received 300 doses of the batch in question.
None were used – they were supposed to fill most of the supply for a mass vaccination event on Thursday.
But while the investigation lasts, they will stay in the freezer.
“We may be waiting until the last minute to make a decision,” said Mariposa County health officer, Dr. Eric Sergienko. “It could be on Wednesday night, we say it well, we don’t know enough and we just postpone it. Once again, we are ready to go in any direction.
soon, but I hope we can clear it up before that. “
Despite the concerns, Dr. Sergienko remains confident in the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness.
He believes that more vaccines will reduce pressure on Valley hospitals and eventually lead to a reopening of the economy and a return to normal life.
“I am excited about the flu season if I have a 55% vaccine effectiveness and this is a 95% effective vaccine, which means that you have reduced the chance of getting a disease that can be debilitating or tremendously fatal,” he said.
On Monday afternoon, Merced County Public Health joined the list of Central Valley counties said to have administered some doses of the Moderna lot before hearing the state.
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Like Tulare and Kings counties, they say there have been no reports of serious allergic reactions.
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