Hundreds of people who attended a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in New Haven received doses that were improperly stored and as a result, considered less effective, according to Mayor Justin Elicker.
About 650 people who attended the 54 Meadows St. clinic between Dec. 23 and Feb. 7 and got the Pfizer vaccine received the doses in question.
"The efficacy or the strength of that dose is one that we want to make sure is strong enough. We will be providing recommendations for the future of what those individuals should do," Elicker said during a news conference.
Now, those individuals are being advised to get re-vaccinated.
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“After consulting with Pfizer and the Connecticut Department of Public Health, it was recommended that those who received the improperly stored Pfizer vaccine or booster get re-vaccinated as soon as they can,” said New Haven Health Director Maritza Bond.
The mayor said there's no evidence that there are any associated negative health impacts.
"There's absolutely no harm here to the public and we want to emphasize that," Bond said.
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The doses administered are thought to be less effective than if they were properly stored.
"There are very special procedures about cold storage and refrigeration and the doses in question were stored too long in the freezer," the mayor continued.
Elicker said all 650 people impacted will be contacted by city officials starting Saturday to get re-vaccinated. People can receive notification by letter, phone or email depending on what information is on file.
About two-thirds of the group received their booster shots, according to Elicker.
City health officials are investigating why this happened. They said they're reviewing policies and procedures of vaccine storage as well as conducting an internal investigation to identify the cause of the temperature excursion.
Elicker also requested that the Department of Public Health assist the city to conduct a review of all policies related to vaccination storage.
No other vaccine clinics in the city improperly stored any doses, Bond said.
This incident happened amid personnel changes at the Meadow Street clinic.
Anyone impacted by the incident can get re-vaccinated at 54 Meadow St. They're open Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Thursday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. No appointments are necessary and the clinic is open to anyone over the age of 5.
