Moderna said the 860 doses of its COVID-19 vaccine that were stored at the wrong temperature at Springfield (Vt.) Hospital are viable for use, the Vermont Department of Health announced Jan. 28.
The CDC says Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine should be stored in a refrigerator about 48 degrees Fahrenheit. An official from Vermont's health department said during a Jan. 27 news conference that Springfield Hospital stored 860 doses at about 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
Springfield Hospital canceled a Jan. 27 vaccination clinic, saying the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution when a discrepancy in the monitoring equipment used to record the temperature of the vaccine was discovered."
Since the amount of doses stored at the wrong temperature was so large and the public is in critical need of COVID-19 vaccinations, Vermont and Springfield Hospital officials worked with Moderna to comprehensively review if the doses in question could be viable for administration. The drugmaker determined none of the doses were adversely affected by the temperature inconsistencies, and they can be safely administered.
The Vermont Department of Health will conduct a site visit to Springfield Hospital Jan. 19 to investigate the storage concerns.
Editor's note: This article was updated Jan. 29 at 1:55 p.m. CST to amend the temperature range Moderna's vaccine doses should be stored at.
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