Sunday night, government officials said those doses should be kept after a host of potentially serious allergic reactions were reported at a vaccination event in San Diego.
According to Kings County Public Health, ARIA Community Health Centers have already administered 200 doses of that lot, but have not noticed any serious allergic reactions.
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“The state’s decision to suspend administration based on a single report reflects the scrutiny these vaccines are undergoing, and the absolute commitment to safety at the state and local levels,” Kings County health officials said in a press release. .
Health officials in Tulare County also confirm that they used some of the 3,500 doses they received, but none responded badly during the 15 to 30-minute post-shot observation window.
“We had no reports of serious reactions and if they did occur, they are likely to occur during that observation period,” said Carrie Monteiro, Tulare County HHSA spokesman.
In the letter sent to providers, the state adds that there have been no other reported events related to the plot.
While it waits for more directions from the state, Tulare County Public Health will stick with the doses they haven’t taken.
They say the break shouldn’t affect vaccination clinics they’ve already planned for this week, but it could affect others.
“We ask the public to remain patient with us,” said Monteiro. “We want to issue more vaccines, but we still have a very limited supply, so this lot to be held may prevent us from planning more clinics in the coming weeks. However, we hope to take action.
quickly and make sure that more vaccine is available so that we don’t have that rest period. “
Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency received 300 doses of the batch in question.
None have been used – they would make up most of the supply for a large-scale vaccination event on Thursday.
But as long as the examination lasts, they will remain in the freezer.
“We may wait until the last minute to make a decision,” said Dr. Eric Sergienko of Mariposa County. “It could come Wednesday night, we’ll say we don’t know enough and just postpone it. Again, we’re ready to go both ways.
in the short term, but I hope we can clear it up sooner. “
Despite the concerns, Dr. Sergienko remains confident in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
He believes more vaccinations will ease the pressure on Valley hospitals and eventually lead to the reopening of the economy and a return to normal life.
“I get excited in flu season when I have a vaccine effectiveness of 55% and this is a 95% effective vaccine, which means you have reduced the chances of getting a disease that can be debilitating or life-threatening,” he said.
Monday afternoon, Merced County Public Health joined the list of Central Valley counties saying they administered single doses of the Moderna lot before hearing from the state.
RELATED: Central California COVID-19 Vaccines: How to Book an Appointment, Latest Information by County
Like Tulare and Kings Counties, they say there have been no reports of serious allergic reactions.
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