SACRAMENTO–The California Department of Health is recommending that providers pause the administration of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine due to possible allergic reactions.
Fewer than ten individuals required medical attention over the span of 24 hours after receiving the vaccine at the Petco Park “Vaccination Super Station” in downtown San Diego.
Those individuals experienced a possible severe allergic reaction during the standard observation period – a type of adverse event that the CDC reports some people have experienced when receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine site switched to another lot of Moderna vaccine after closing for a few hours.
More than 330,000 doses from this lot have been distributed in California, and the state has not been notified of any other cluster or individual events related to this lot.
“Our goal is to provide the COVID vaccine safely, swiftly and equitably,” said Dr. Pan. “A higher-than-usual number of possible allergic reactions were reported with a specific lot of Moderna vaccine administered at one community vaccination clinic. Fewer than 10 individuals required medical attention over the span of 24 hours,” said California State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan in a written statement. “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. We will provide an update as we learn more.”
The manufacturer, CDC and FDA are promptly reviewing the lot and related medical information. No additional clusters have been reported. Their investigation continues, and the state expects to learn more this week.
Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, the state is recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory and pause administration of vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A until the investigation is complete.
There are not immediate replacement doses during the pause in addition to pending orders scheduled for shipment in the next few days.
