The designated secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Health, Carlos Mellado, will ask the United States Department of Justice to investigate the recent discovery of a box with covid-19 vaccines from the pharmaceutical company Moderna.
According to a press release from the island’s Health Department, the Walgreens pharmacy chain was in charge of transporting the vaccines.
Eileen Ortega, director of Operations for Walgreens Puerto Rico, issued written statements. “While our pharmacy team was transporting Moderna vaccines to a long-term care facility in Morovis, a cooler containing a limited number of doses that were not properly secured fell from the vehicle,” he said.
Ortega said she was very grateful to the person who found the cooler and alerted local police. “We will be investigating the matter and reviewing our procedures with the team so that this does not happen again,” he added.
Mellado announced that he will refer the matter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency that contracts with Walgreens. Also to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Puerto Rico Police report indicated that on Wednesday a citizen found a cardboard box with covid-19 vaccines on a highway in the municipality of Morovis, in the central area of the island. The report detailed that inside it contained a white refrigerator with syringes and a box with vaccines from the Moderna company.
The initial investigation was carried out by the Office of Investigations of the Department of Health and the Auxiliary Secretariat of Regulation and Accreditation of Health Facilities of Puerto Rico (Sarafs).
Similarly, Sarafs’ office began the administrative process for possible violations of Articles 9.06 and 9.07 of Regulation 8703 of the Department of Health. Especially those that specify the proper management of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine. Among other applicable legal provisions.
Mellado expressed that what happened is unacceptable and regrettable.
The Puerto Rico Health Department reported that it seized 24 doses of the Moderna brand, which were later discarded because they were exposed to temperatures not suitable for use.