BOSTON (CBS) – Nearly 2,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were compromised at the VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain after a freezer broke.
Earlier this week, a contractor accidentally unplugged while cleaning after a pipe burst and flooded the room where the vaccines were stored. As a result, 1,900 doses of the vaccine were endangered.
‘It’s 12 o’clock for the Moderna vaccine. Once it has been at room temperature for longer, you can no longer assure that it is effective and so you cannot give the vaccine, ”said Dr. Paul Biddinger, the medical director for emergency preparation at Mass General Brigham, on WBZ-TV.
Rep. Stephen Lynch examines freezer at VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain after COVID vaccines were compromised (Image Credit Office of Congressman Stephen F. Lynch)
Kyle Toto, a spokesperson for the VA Boston Healthcare System, told WBZ the vaccines have not been thrown away.
Toto said the freezer was in a safe location and an alarm system was installed. It is investigated why the surveillance and alarm system did not work.
“Supplemental doses are underway and we do not anticipate an interruption in our vaccination efforts,” said Toto.
Dr. Biddinger said proper storage is critical to maintaining the integrity of the vaccine’s key element and its overall success against the virus.
Rep. Lynch and Chief Pharmacist Antoun Houranieh examine vaccine freezers at the VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain (Office of Congressman Stephen F. Lynch)
“The problem is that messenger RNA, mRNA, is very fragile. People have made the analogy with an M&M that melts very, very quickly. “
Massachusetts Deputy Stephen Lynch said the doses have been moved to Brockton and West Roxbury while the clean-up operation is ongoing.
“They went below the temperature at which they could be stored, so unfortunately they were lost,” said Congressman Stephen Lynch. He says he is sure it was an accident, but called the inspector general to make sure.
A six-inch cooler pipe burst and he flooded the pharmacy where the vaccines were kept. During the clean-up operation, some of the contractor personnel doing the clean-up accidentally pulled out the freezer, ”said Lynch.
“At least they had enough for me,” said veteran Bob Kenney, who was able to make his planned recording Friday. “I hope they can replace it so that no one has to do without it.”
“We don’t need mistakes,” said veteran Paul Hapenny. “That’s 1,900 doses that will not fall into people’s arms.”
The freezers on wheels have been brought in especially to store the COVID vaccines. Dr. Vincent Ng, director of VA Boston, said there was no bracket on the plug at the time, but it has now been rewired. He also said the freezer alarm should have gone off when the temperature dropped, but it didn’t.
“We’re investigating why it failed, but what we know is that we’ve reactivated the alarm,” said Ng. “We’ve tested it several times, and it works, so that’s been fixed.”