Northern Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer is recommending revaccination for approximately 425 people immunized in Terrace, Stewart and surrounding First Nations communities between October 2022 and September 2023.
In October 2023, Northern Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control began investigating variances in the recorded temperatures at which some vaccines had been stored at the Terrace Health Unit (THU). Immediate measures were put in place to eliminate further uncertainty with storage temperatures but given the possibility the vaccines were exposed to higher temperatures than recommended, NH is following up with those who received affected doses to encourage revaccination.
“Out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with the BC Centre for Disease Control and First Nations Health Authority, I am recommending individuals who received specific vaccine doses be revaccinated,” said Dr. Jong Kim, NH Chief Medical Health Officer. “Receiving a dose from the impacted vaccine supply is not considered to be a risk to a person’s health, but it may mean they didn’t get the full benefit to their immune system if they received a potentially non-viable dose.”
When the temperature discrepancies were identified, the THU quarantined and later disposed of doses of vaccines of various types that may have been affected. Immunization appointments were briefly paused in Terrace and at First Nations health centres (clinics) that receive vaccine supply from the THU. No COVID-19 or seasonal influenza (flu) vaccines were affected, and there were no interruptions to respiratory illness vaccine clinics.
The affected vaccines were administered at the Health Unit, as well as at Stewart Health Centre and clinics in Kitsumkalum, Kitselas, Iskut, Gitlaxt’amiks, Gitwinksihlkw, Gingolx, Laxgalts’ap, Gitanyow and Gitwangak. It is important to note not all vaccines administered at these locations were affected by the temperature uncertainties and not all recipients will need revaccination.
Northern Health, in collaboration/consultation with the First Nations Health Authority, has begun the process of contacting each person (or their parent or guardian, if they are a minor), who will need to be revaccinated. Affected individuals will be contacted directly by phone and by mail. A Registered Nurse will review each case and provide information about next steps, including how to book a revaccination appointment.
More information about the individual vaccines affected, and the diseases they prevent, is available online. The webpage also has information for people who believe they may have been affected but have not yet received a call or letter from Northern Health.
Backgrounder
Note: Not every person who received the following vaccines between October 2022 and September 2023 will need to be revaccinated. The recommendation is limited to specific lot numbers of vaccine, depending on when and where they were stored.
The following is a list of vaccines impacted by the storage temperature uncertainties, and which are being offered as part of the Northwest BC revaccination campaign (click the links for more information):
- Boostrix Polio: Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio
- Rotarix: Human rotavirus
- Hep A Havrix: Hepatitis A
- ProQuad: Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (chicken pox)
- Varivax: Varicella (chicken pox)
- Tubersol: Tuberculin Skin Test (not a vaccine)
- Pediacel: Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus Influenzae Type b
- Nimenrix: Meningococcal (Groups A,C,Y,W-135)
- Pneumo 23: Pneumococcal 23
- Rabavert: Rabies vaccine
- Imovax Polio: Polio
- Hypertet IG: Tetanus
- TD absorbed: Tetanus, Diphtheria
- Kamrab IG: Rabies immunoglobulin
- Recombivax: Hepatitis B
- Varivax: Varicella (chicken pox)
- ActHib: Haemophilus Influenzae Type b