HARTFORD, Conn. — Nearly 650 people who received a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in New Haven between Christmas and Feb. 7 will need to get another shot, city health officials said late Friday, because the vaccine was improperly stored.
The doses, which were administered at the New Haven Health Department clinic were improperly stored at a colder temperature than normal — a challenge in vaccination inventory known as temperature excursion, which can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. After consulting with the state Department of Public Health and Pfizer, the city is working with community partners to get these individuals revaccinated at other vaccination clinics in the city.
“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 revaccinated as soon as they can,” said Health Director Maritza Bond.
Bond said that Pfizer officials told city officials that the vaccine doses administered in question could be less effective due to temperature excursion. There is no evidence that temperature excursion has caused medical harm, as this has happened in other places throughout the country and no health issues have been reported.
“This issue was identified this week when the Health Department was conducting an inventory of our vaccines,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. “Following this notification, action was taken to investigate the issue and the director of health immediately reached out to the state Department of Public Health as well the vaccine manufacturer, Pfizer.”
Elicker said starting Sunday city officials “will begin reaching out to those who may be affected — via letter, phone and email addresses we have on file — and will notify them of the nearest clinic to get revaccinated.”
The city is reviewing its policies and procedures of vaccine storage, and conducting an internal investigation to identify the cause of this temperature excursion. Additionally, at Elicker’s request, the DPH will assist the city to conduct a review of all policies and procedures related to vaccination storage.
The mayor said anyone who received a Pfizer vaccine at the New Haven Health Department between Dec. 23 through Feb. 7 should visit covid19.newhavenct.gov to find a site for revaccination.
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