A pop-up community clinic that has vaccinated more than 600 people in Lafayette will not issue a second round of coronavirus shots after Contra Costa County health officials receive a complaint claiming vaccinations were given to people who should not have received them.
Dr. Rebecca Parish, a Lafayette internist who set up the community clinic at Stanley Middle School Jan. 16 and 17, confirmed that a physician who volunteered at the clinic had filed complaints with the regional health department and the state medical board, which licensed and disciplines doctors.
Parish said she has done nothing wrong and expects to be acquitted within days.
“Everyone who received a vaccination was in accordance with Contra Costa County guidelines,” she said.
The county does not want to confirm that a complaint has been filed against Parish, who runs a private practice called Comprehensive Wellness, or the pop-up clinic.
But Contra Costa Health Services officials said they had informed her that the vaccinations could only be given to health workers and people over 75.
Under state guidelines, health workers and anyone over the age of 65 can be shot, but many counties and agencies have hospitals that have kept people over the age of 75 on the front lines. Contra Costa County prioritizes people 75 and older.
Authorities said they are reviewing records of who received the vaccinations at Lafayette’s clinic and that they will not be sending a supply of second doses to the clinic. Anyone who has received a first dose of the vaccine at Lafayette’s clinic will receive a second dose in provincial clinics, health officials said.
“CCHS does not currently supply vaccines to private medical offices,” said Contra Costa Health Service. “We are focusing on larger distribution sites, especially in our most affected communities.”
Some people under 65 did get vaccinations, Parish said, when the clinic found out at the end of the day on Sunday that she had about 100 additional doses. The clinic used the Pfizer vaccine, which is known to contain extra vaccine in most vials. Seniors on a waiting list were called first and then some volunteers, she said, in an effort to keep shots from being thrown.
“The absolute cardinal sin is to let any vaccine go to waste,” she said, explaining that she followed provincial procedures for handling leftover doses.
Parish said she was relieved to learn Friday night that everyone vaccinated at the clinic would be getting their second dose.
“This is just a waste of time,” she said of the complaint, “when we should be focusing on taking guns.”
Michael Cabanatuan is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ctuan