Health officials in California have stopped vaccinating people with a batch Moderna’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine over concerns related to allergic reactions.
According to Fox News affiliate station KSWB-TV in San Diego, “The California Department of Public Health said fewer than 10 people sought medical care after getting vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A at Petco Park last week. San Diego County health officials confirmed a half-dozen healthcare workers suffered allergic reactions.”
The California Department of Public Health announced the pause in use of vaccines from the suspect batch in a press release on January 17.
“A higher-than-usual number of possible allergic reactions were reported with a specific lot of Moderna vaccine administered at one community vaccination clinic,” said California state epidemiologist Erica S. Pan. “Fewer than 10 individuals required medical attention over the span of 24 hours. Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory and pause the administration of vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A until the investigation by the CDC, FDA, Moderna and the state is complete.”
The batch of Modena vaccines associated with the adverse reactions has been widely distributed throughout the state, the California Department of Public Health noted. “More than 330,000 doses from this lot have been distributed to 287 providers across the state,” the Department said. “The shipments arrived in California between Jan. 5 and 12. The state has not been notified of any other cluster or individual events related to this lot.”
Despite the pause in use of vaccines from the batch, state officials insist that the vaccine is safe. “While no vaccine or medical procedure is without risk, the risk of a serious adverse reaction is very small,” the state Department of Public Health said. “While less data exists on adverse reactions related to the Moderna vaccine, a similar vaccine shows that the expected rate of anaphylaxis is approximately 1 in 100,000.”
