COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced Friday it had halted a clinic's administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado Springs due to "irregularities" in the storage and handling of the vaccine.
CDPHE said El Paso County Public Health alerted the Joint Vaccine Task Force after observing a failure to comply with storage protocols at Dr. Moma Health and Wellness Clinic.
Health officials said they are particularly concerned about possible temperature excursions and lack of regular temperature monitoring as required for participation in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program. CDPHE said the Colorado Springs clinic has been vaccinating since March 1, so they are reviewing data back to that date.
According to CDPHE, El Paso County Public Health was on-site Friday.
This clinic has administered 3,933 vaccines, CDPHE said, but health officials do not believe patients have a cause for concern. However, CDPHE is trying to determine if those previously vaccinated at this site will need to do it over again, as occasionally happens with similar occurrences involving other vaccines.
State health officials said they are working with the CDC, Moderna and Pfizer to determine if anyone will need to re-initiate their vaccine series.
As of now, the state asks people to continue to follow the vaccine schedule. If that changes, health officials said they will notify those people directly.
Health officials are working to determine if Dr. Moma has records to show that storage protocols have been consistently adhered to, or if this was an isolated incident, CDPHE said.
Just over 1,000 appointments were canceled at that location for Saturday, April 10, as well as another 6,000 appointments scheduled through May 8, CDPHE said.
CDPHE said the provider uses PrepMod scheduling software, which allows the state to contact people with future appointments at that location to reschedule them and direct them to another clinic.
Coloradans can find information about alternate vaccine providers at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine or in Spanish at covid19.colorado.gov/vacuna or by calling a 24 hour call center at 1-877-268-2926.
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