Hartford HealthCare is warning that some vaccines and tuberculosis tests given at several of their facilities may not be effective due to temperature fluctuations while the items were stored.
The issue affected several vaccines, including flu, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, and meningococcal at the Plainville, Vernon, Colchester, Norwichtown and Duncaster locations. The tuberculosis testing was conducted at facilities in Montville, Wallingford and Meriden.
The medical group stresses that the issue will not cause any harm to patients, but may make the vaccines less effective. Hartford HealthCare is contacting the 953 patients affected and offering a second vaccine or test free of charge.
For more information or to make an appointment, call 877-707-4442 or click here.
Earlier this month the Hartford HealthCare Medical Group Bishop's Corner in West Hartford reported that vaccines given between Oct. 22 to Oct. 25 may not have been stored properly and recommended revaccinations for 56 patients.
Hartford HealthCare says it has taken steps to prevent the issue in the future, including the following:
- On site re-education of staff at all locations
- Daily temperature log recording and reporting
- Monthly review of temperature logs
- Periodic on-site vaccine storage audits
- Ongoing standardization and placement of digital temperature data recorders at all sites without them
- New technology will be implemented that removes human error, utilizing a central monitoring system with real time alerts for all sites.
