California says it is safe to resume distribution of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine

SACRAMENTO, California, – California says a batch of Moderna coronavirus vaccines can be safely resumed after some people get sick and injections should be stopped.

The decision releases more than 300,000 doses to counties, cities and hospitals struggling to get supplies.

The state Department of Public Health on Sunday urged a pause in the use of batch 41L20A of the Modern vaccine. This came after fewer than ten people had possible allergic reactions after receiving shots at the San Diego vaccination site.

But the state epidemiologist says a security review found “no scientific basis for continuing the break” and that the shots could be resumed immediately.

“These findings should continue to give Californians confidence that vaccines are safe and effective and that the systems in place to ensure vaccine safety are rigorous and science-based,” said Dr. Erica Pan, a state epidemiologist.

The state consulted with the Western States Scientific Safety Review Working Group, as well as other medical specialists and health officials from San Diego County, as well as the FDA, CDC, and Modern before publishing the its results.

The group said it was unclear why seven people had adverse reactions at the same site for two days, but noted that none of the reactions endangered their lives.

The report noted that a large number of people had received the same batch of vaccines elsewhere in the country and no similar adverse reactions have been reported.

The conclusions of the working group can be found at this link.