Bad batch of Moderna vaccine pulled from El Dorado County and other California communities

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Fewer than ten reactions from one batch of Moderna vaccines distributed in California has prompted state officials to pull it from circulation. Providers of the vaccine from this batch have been asked to pause the administration of lot 41L20A of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine due to possible allergic reactions that are under investigation.

More than 330,000 doses from this lot have been distributed to 287 providers across the state. The shipments arrived in California between Jan. 5 and 12, 2021. The state has not been notified of any other cluster or individual events related to this lot.

El Dorado County received approximately 1,000 doses from this batch and about 400 had been administered. They have pulled the remaining doses from circulation.

There have been no adverse reactions in El Dorado County according to the County's spokesperson Carla Haas.

"Our goal is to provide the COVID vaccine safely, swiftly and equitably," said California State Epidemiologist Dr. Pan on Sunday. "A higher-than-usual number of possible allergic reactions were reported with a specific lot of Moderna vaccine administered at one community vaccination clinic. Fewer than 10 individuals required medical attention over the span of 24 hours. Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory and pause the administration of vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A until the investigation by the CDC, FDA, Moderna and the state is complete. We will provide an update as we learn more."

The manufacturer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are reviewing the lot and related medical information.