LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – State health officials on Sunday urged health care providers to pause in administering a single lot of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine due to concerns about possible allergic reactions, but in updated guidance the state has cleared the use of the vaccine.
California State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said Sunday that there had been “a higher-than-usual number of possible allergic reactions” reported with Moderna Lot 041L20A, which was administered at one community vaccination clinic.
Pan said 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,” Pan said.
Those impacted had appeared to be experiencing a possible severe allergic reaction during the standard observation period, Pan said.
Pan’s office said that while no vaccine or medical procedure is without risk, the risk of a serious adverse reaction is very small.
While less data exists on adverse reactions related to the Moderna vaccine, officials said a similar vaccine shows that the expected rate of anaphylaxis is approximately 1 in 100,000.
On Tuesday, Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace told the Board of Supervisors that the county had received a shipment of 400 doses of the Moderna vaccine, but that before they could open it to administer it, the state notified them not to use the doses due to the concerns about allergic reactions.
On Wednesday night, Pan followed up with a statement that cleared the immediate use of the Moderna Lot 041L20A vaccination doses.
Pand said that on Tuesday the state convened the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup and additional allergy and immunology specialists to examine the evidence collected, and had further discussions with the County of San Diego Department of Public Health, the Federal Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Moderna.
She said they found no scientific basis to continue the pause on administering the doses.
“These findings should continue to give Californians confidence that vaccines are safe and effective, and that the systems put in place to ensure vaccine safety are rigorous and science-based,” Pan said. “Members of my family who have qualified to receive the vaccine as health care workers or because of their age have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, and I encourage every Californian to get the vaccine when it’s their turn.”
Pace did not respond to a request from Lake County News about the update from the state or the locally held Moderna doses.
The California Department of Public Health said that more than 330,000 doses from this lot were distributed to 287 providers across the state between Jan. 5 and 12. The state has not been notified of any other cluster or individual events related to this lot.
The agency could not confirm to Lake County News the number of doses received locally that were in Moderna Lot 041L20.
However, on Thursday night, during the Clearlake City Council meeting, City Manager Alan Flora reported to the council that locally held doses of Moderna Lot 041L20A were cleared for release.
Lake County Public Health is now rolling out stand up vaccination clinics in Clearlake and Lakeport for seniors and teachers. However, members of the public can’t simply show up to be vaccinated as appointments are required for the limited number of doses the county has available.
In the case of seniors, they must make appointments either through their local senior center or medical provider. Vaccinations for teachers are being arranged through their respective school districts.
Flora told the council that a larger shipment of vaccine doses – as many as 800 – is expected to arrive in Lake County next week.
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State updates guidance on single lot of Moderna vaccine previously ordered to be held
- Elizabeth Larson
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