A specific lot of the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19 has potentially caused a "higher-than-usual" number of allergic reactions but luckily, none of those doses have been administered to anyone in Santa Clara County, county officials said Monday.
The California Department of Public Health on Sunday recommended providers halt the administration of Moderna lot 41L20A because it led to a "higher-than-usual" number of allergic reactions potentially caused by the vaccine, state officials said.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that anaphylaxis, or extreme allergic reaction, is possible from a COVID-19 vaccine, but less data exists on adverse reactions to the Moderna vaccine.
"A similar vaccine shows that the expected rate of anaphylaxis is approximately 1 in 100,000," the state's Department of Public Health said in a statement.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said pausing vaccination from this lot is "out of an extreme abundance of caution," and "fewer than 10 individuals required medical attention over the span of 24 hours."
More than 33,000 doses from this lot were distributed across the state, 21,800 of which were allocated to Santa Clara County's Public Health Department for distribution to local vaccine providers.
Shipments arrived between Jan. 5 through Jan. 12, state officials said in a statement.
County officials said they have notified providers who have received doses from this lot, including Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Stanford Health Care and El Camino Health.
Vaccine providers are required to report any adverse reactions to the federal government through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, and county officials said they have not seen "unusual levels of adverse reactions," in Santa Clara County.
The allergic reactions are under investigation by the CDC, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Moderna and the state.
"The County is working closely with CDPH as the situation evolves and will notify the affected vaccine providers and the public as soon as more information becomes available," county public health officials said in a statement.
Find comprehensive coverage on the Midpeninsula's response to the new coronavirus by Palo Alto Online, the Mountain View Voice and the Almanac here.
Comments
Registered user
Old Mountain View
on Jan 18, 2021 at 6:05 pm
Registered user
on Jan 18, 2021 at 6:05 pm
We have a vaccine. Could we skip the "abundance of caution" while kids aren't in school, restaurants are shut, and people are going insane?
If you think that everyone is happy about this decision: you are completely wrong.
Registered user
Rengstorff Park
on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:35 pm
Registered user
on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:35 pm
ConsiderReality- Have you had anaphylaxis? I have & it isn’t fun: my tongue & fingers swelled & breathing was difficult. I spent 5 hours in urgent care on a ventilator. THAT’S reality. As impatient as I am to get the vaccine, I appreciate the abundance of caution.
Registered user
Jackson Park
on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:48 pm
Registered user
on Jan 19, 2021 at 2:48 pm
I think @ConsiderReality's point is that the health agencies should not limit the vaccinations because of a 1:100,000 issue. Instead, people like @7x7native who have had reactions in the past should be selective in their choice of vaccination.
Registered user
Rengstorff Park
on Jan 19, 2021 at 3:26 pm
Registered user
on Jan 19, 2021 at 3:26 pm
Dan Waylonis- Yes, I am being selective. I had hopes that Moderna would not have severe reactions as did Pfizer & Astra Zeneca. Pfizer’s reactions appear to be from nuts & shellfish, neither of which cause me problems.