324 Riverside County residents received Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses that were stored incorrectly, may have lost potency
The Riverside University Health System reported that 324 people received Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses that were stored in a freezer longer than the manufacturer's recommendation at two community health center sites in Jurupa Valley and Riverside.
The vaccines were administered to patients at the community health center sites located in Jurupa Valley (8876 Mission Blvd.) between Oct. 8 and Nov. 23, and Riverside Neighborhood (7140 Indiana Ave.) between Oct. 23 and Nov. 23. Staff members discovered the issue Tuesday.
Though they may have had improper storage from freezer to refrigeration to administration, the doses do not pose a danger to the individuals who received them, but they may have lost their potency, a release states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that patients receive a repeat dose as soon as possible.
Riverside University Health System staff is actively reaching out to the impacted patients directly and has implemented measures to prevent a repeat occurrence.
People who received a vaccine at one of these sites can also call 800-945-6171 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Ema Sasic covers health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 324 Riverside County patients received incorrectly stored COVID-19 vaccine
