The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Some northern Saskatchewan patients are advised to repeat vaccinations that were potentially flawed. Patients at the La Ronge Health Centre Emergency Department who received vaccines that were affected by a power outage in June are being contacted to advise them to repeat their vaccinations. Between June 28 and July 28, 19 patients received vaccinations in the emergency department for Tetanus and Diphtheria (Td), or Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (TdaP) that may not have met the standards for refrigeration of vaccines following an extended power outage in La Ronge. 'While there was no harm to patients receiving these vaccines, we cannot be totally confident that they will offer the long-term protection that we normally expect,' said Dr. Moliehi Khaketla, Deputy Medical Health Officer for Saskatchewan's three northern health authorities. 'We, therefore, recommend that they repeat their booster dose.' Not all patients who received their vaccinations in the emergency department during this time period received the affected vaccine, but those that did are being contacted by phone and by letter. Those who received vaccines from the Public Health office on the upper level of the La Ronge Health Centre were not affected. 'We regret the concern and inconvenience that this situation may have caused our clients,' said Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region CEO Andrew McLetchie. McLetchie said the RHA is 'conducting a thorough review' and has 'taken steps to ensure that any vaccine that is administered meets the standards for refrigeration.' Affected patients may arrange with their local public health office to repeat their doses. If they have any questions, they may contact the population health unit in La Ronge at 306-425-8588. _ Compiled from a Mamawetan Churchill River Regional Health Authority news release
