© 2024 All Rights reserved WUSF
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News about coronavirus in Florida and around the world is constantly emerging. It's hard to stay on top of it all but Health News Florida and WUSF can help. Our responsibility at WUSF News is to keep you informed, and to help discern what’s important for your family as you make what could be life-saving decisions.

State Requests Audit After Vaccine Doses Spoiled

Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are seen at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., Dec. 14, 2020. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)
Doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are seen at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., Dec. 14, 2020. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

The Department of Health's request came after news reports of about 1,160 doses spoiled because a refrigerator was unintentionally turned off in Palm Beach County.

The Florida Department of Health on Wednesday requested an audit after more than 1,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses were spoiled in Palm Beach County.

The department called on the Health Care District of Palm Beach County to conduct the audit by Feb. 12.

The request came after about 1,160 doses spoiled this month after a refrigerator was unintentionally turned off, according to news reports last week.

"It is a tragedy that even one dose of this critical resource would go to waste and not be used to save a life from COVID-19,” state Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said Wednesday in a prepared statement.

“In Florida, we have been diligent to preserve and utilize every single dose of the vaccine. While we must rely on partners to distribute this critical resource, we expect that every provider treat the vaccine as the precious commodity that it is. We hope to see this situation rectified and addressed immediately to ensure the Palm Beach County Health Care District does not let one more dose go to waste.”

Copyright 2021 Health News Florida

You Count on Us, We Count on You: Donate to WUSF to support free, accessible journalism for yourself and the community.