Revaccinations Recommended for Nearly 22,000 Patients in Oregon After Storage Errors Found

Health clinics and the state Public Health Division are working together to notify patients after vaccine storage errors were discovered in facilities owned by three private clinics in Oregon. State public health officials recommend nearly 22,000 patients in 12 cities receive revaccinations.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Health clinics and the state Public Health Division are working together to notify patients after vaccine storage errors were discovered in facilities owned by three private clinics in Oregon.

State public health officials recommend nearly 22,000 patients in 12 cities receive revaccinations. During routine investigations it was found that refrigeration units may not have been maintained at the correct temperature for vaccination effectiveness.

The vaccinations posed no harm to patients, but the effectiveness of the vaccines might have been compromised so revaccination is recommended.

Mostly affected are childhood vaccines intended to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis A & B, human papillomavirus, viral influenza and pneumococcal disease. Because clinics typically store vaccines in a single place, some adult vaccines also may have been affected.

“The affected vaccines are safe, but they may have lost potency because of being stored at the incorrect temperatures or in refrigeration units where temperature monitoring equipment was absent or malfunctioning. We are recommending people get revaccinated to ensure they are protected from illness, and we are working with all Oregon clinics to make sure they understand proper storage techniques.” says Dr. Mel Kohn, public health director for the Oregon Department of Human Services.

High Desert Medical Center, with more than 300 patients who received vaccines at one clinic in Burns.

Providence Health & Services, with some 7,400 patients who received immunizations at its clinics in the Gateway, Milwaukie and Sunnyside clinics in the Portland area; Cannon Beach, Seaside and Warrenton clinics on the north coast; and Doctors Clinic, Jacksonville, Medford Family Practice and Shady Cove clinics in southern Oregon.

The Corvallis Clinic, with approximately 14,000 patients who received vaccine from its clinics in Albany, Corvallis and Philomath.

“We fully recognize that this is an inconvenience to affected parents and may be uncomfortable for their children,” Dr. Kohn says. “That is why we are working vigorously with clinics across Oregon to reduce these problems as much as possible.” The earlier immunizations with vaccines that may have lost their potency will not count against children when determining their vaccine requirements for school, he says.

The issue with the vaccines was discovered during inspection visits from the Oregon Department of Human Services Public Health Division earlier this spring and summer at clinics that participate in the federal Vaccines for Children program.

This immunization program distributes approximately $28,000,000 worth of vaccines annually (approximately 840,000 doses) to participating clinics for children who receive Medicaid services or are uninsured. Inspections at the clinics are required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since the discovery, the state and clinics have been working to identify the total number of patients affected in order to do a comprehensive notification campaign. This week the clinics are sending letters to the patients recommending revaccinations. There will be no charge to the patients. Additionally, the larger clinics have set up hotlines and will be providing additional information to the communities.

The phone number for The Corvallis Clinic is 541-754-1283. The phone number for Providence’s vaccine call center is 1-877-503-9620.

These vaccinations also have been flagged in the state’s registry, Oregon Immunization ALERT, for health care providers, which means that even if a patient goes to see a different provider, the fact they need to be revaccinated will not be missed.

“If anyone has a question about whether they are affected, they should contact their health care provider,” says Dr. Kohn. “If for some reason patients or their parents don’t receive the notification letter, their health care provider will see a red flag the next time they visit and can administer the revaccinations.”

Also, since the storage errors were discovered, the state has required all 600 clinics that participate in the Vaccines for Children program to submit temperature logs for a thorough review.

Temperature problems at storage facilities are not uncommon both in Oregon and nationwide and Dr. Kohn says that this trio of issues points to the need to better educate clinics.