62 patients impacted by incorrectly mixed vaccine at Riverfront Hy-Vee
62 patients impacted by incorrectly mixed vaccine at Riverfront Hy-Vee By Lauren Andrego | February 26, 2021 at 6:48 PM CST - Updated February 26 at 6:48 PM
MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) Dozens of patients who received their first COVID-19 vaccine in Mankato learned Friday it may not be effective.
Hy-Vee’s pharmacy on Riverfront Drive in Mankato informed 62 people Friday of a potential issue with the vaccine they’d received.
Hy-Vee says they had an oversight when administering the first dose of its Pfizer vaccine. They say two pharmacy staff members used vaccines mixed with a sterile water injection diluted, rather than the saline diluent provided by Pfizer.
Staff at Mankato Hy-Vee incorrectly diluted COVID vaccines for 62 patients
The retailer says that there is no reason for medical concern.
Author:
Hy-Vee has confirmed that staff at one of its Minnesota stores incorrectly diluted a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine that was then administered to 62 patients.
The grocery store chain, whose pharmacies are among three authorized in Minnesota to administer the vaccines as part of a federal program, said that the incident happened recently at its Riverfront Hy-Vee pharmacy in Mankato.
It said that there was an oversight when giving the first dose of the vaccine to 62 patients.
As it explains: Two pharmacy staff members used vaccines mixed with a sterile water injection diluent – which is commonly used to dilute injections, rather than the saline diluent provided by Pfizer.
Local organizations hand out 400 meals to Iowans in need Share Updated: 6:35 PM CST Feb 25, 2021
Local organizations hand out 400 meals to Iowans in need Share Updated: 6:35 PM CST Feb 25, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript STACEY: NEW AT 6:00, HELP TODAY FOR MANY CENTRAL IOWANS WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING DURING THE PANDEMIC. TODAY, CREATIVE VISIONS, MEALS FROM THE HEARTLAND AND HYVEE TEAMED UP TO HAND OUT 400 BAGS OF FREE GROCERIES AT THE FOREST AVENUE LIBRARY. EACH ONE HAS THE MAKINGS FOR 36 MEALS. THE NEED IS STILL THERE, AND SO WE WANT TO BE THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, BE THERE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEED US. STACEY: HYVEE SAYS SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC
To set up an appointment, mid-Missourians can apply on the store website here.Â
Appointments are already booked for the next five days, but more slots will be added.
Hy-Vee Public Relations Director Christina Gayman said around 500 doses on average are being delivered to Columbia locations weekly.
MU Health Care Pharmacy Director Brad Myers said this may allow other vaccination sites to move to the next tier quicker. Missouri is currently in Phase 1B- Tier 1 & 2.
The fight against COVID-19 in mid-Missouri requires multiple vaccination distributors and Myers said moves like these are âfantastic.â
Hy-Vee is administering vaccines at three Columbia pharmacies- Conley, Nifong and West Broadway- per their website.
Hy-Vee is one of the companies involved in the government s Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which also includes Walmart, Walgreens and CVS. Here s what states are included so far.