Health / Covid 19

Some Otago vaccinations void as stocks not checked

17:25 pm on 7 March 2022

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Up to 1,500 people in the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago area will have to be re-vaccinated, after a major mishap with the storage of the Covid-19 vaccination.

The jabs were given between the December 1 last year and January 28, 2022.

Southern Health DHB says the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine was not stored at the correct temperature, and the people who got it may not be immune to the virus.

Chief executive Chris Fleming told Checkpoint that all vaccine providers are supposed to check the data log on their stocks frequently. He understands daily. 

The storage of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at some locations in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago was too cold he said. 

Fleming said without proper investigation he won't assume that checks of the data log were not done over the period, but acknowledged that conclusion could be drawn.