Providencehas discovered issues with our refrigeration storage that might have affected some vaccines given at 11 of our clinics in Oregon.
We have no reason to believe the vaccines that were given are harmful. However, we are concerned that they might not protect against disease. After consulting with the Oregon Health Department and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have decided that the only way we can be sure our patients are fully protected against disease is to give the vaccine again.
Providence is taking the following steps:
We are notifying each patient affected with a letter to their home.
We will provide them with new vaccinations free of charge.
Our medical experts, along with the public health experts we’ve consulted, tell us that this new vaccination does not pose any more risk to patients than the first one did. Vaccines have very few side effects. The most common are pain at the injection site, redness and swelling.
Please call your clinic to schedule appointments for new vaccinations.
Please note: if you do not receive a letter, you do not need to take any action.
Providencetakes this issue very seriously. We have already implemented changes in our process to ensure that our medications at all of our clinics are stored properly, in compliance with federal and state guidelines.
Finally, and most importantly, we want to apologize to our patients and families. We know shots are not pleasant for anyone, especially for kids. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience and concern this may cause you. We strive to provide you with the highest quality services and we are honored you have chosen Providence. We apologize for letting you down. We’ll do our best to help you through this and we pledge to do better in the future.
For a list of the clinics affected, click here. For a list of frequently asked questions, click here.
