The top epidemiologist in California is warning health care providers to delay the use of a group of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine after a “higher than usual number of possible allergic reactions” was reported at a vaccination clinic in Southern California.
The lot in question contains 330 000 doses – about 1/10 of what the state has distributed so far.
The reaction was observed in less than ten people who needed medical help after receiving the vaccine at one clinic, said Dr. Erica S. Pan, state epidemiologist, said in a statement Sunday night. The condition of those affected was not disclosed, but health officials described the allergic reaction as ‘serious’.
The clinic is in San Diego, the California Department of Public Health later reported.
“Out of an abundance of caution and also recognition of the extremely limited supply of vaccine,” the statement read, “we recommend that suppliers use other available vaccine supplies and interrupt the administration of vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A until the CDC investigates FDA, Modern and the state are complete. ”
More than 330,000 doses of the affected lot – which arrived in California between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 – were distributed to 287 providers in the state, officials said. No other adverse reactions were reported from the specific fate.
“There are no immediate replacement doses during the break, other than the pending orders to be shipped within the next few days,” public health officials said in a statement to health providers.
The health department said they would get more information later this week.
Michael Williams is a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected]