324 People In CA County Receive Improperly Stored Pfizer Vaccine

RIVERSIDE, CA — Some 324 people in California may have received improperly stored Pfizer vaccine shots, according to a statement from the Riverside University Health System.

Staffers were working to contact those who possibly received the affected doses between Oct. 8 and Nov. 23, the health system told Patch.

The vaccines in question were reportedly stored in a freezer longer than the manufacturer recommends at two community health centers in Jurupa Valley and Riverside, according to RUHS.

"If you received a Pfizer vaccine at one of these two locations and you are not contacted by CHC staff, you are not impacted by this storage issue," RUHS officials wrote in a statement.

The health care system said that the doses do not pose a danger, but could be less potent, which could impact the vaccine's ability to protect against COVID-19.

The error was discovered by employees on Nov. 23.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that patients who receive incorrectly stored vaccines get a replacement dose as soon as possible.

Those who received a vaccine at the Jurupa Valley or Riverside sites were urged to call 800-945-6171 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.