Problem with vaccines given to kids?

SANDUSKY — A local health clinic is offering free re-vaccinations to children after it discovered a malfunction with the refrigerator containing its vaccines. Family Health Services, which has locations in Sandusky and Norwalk, said it learned in February that batteries in a thermometer monitoring the refrigerator's temperature died and backup logs recording the fridge's temperature were not completed. The clinic contracts to deliver student health services in Sandusky Schools and said 117 vaccine doses were affected which were used to immunize 65 children, according to Dr. Mary Peters, medical director for Family Health Services. Another 73 doses that were not administered were disposed of as a precaution on a recommendation from the Ohio Department of Health after Family Health Services reported the situation to the state agency. Children who received vaccines at the school district during this time can get new shots for no additional charge, Peters said. What happened? The issue with the fridge occurred between June 27, 2024 and Feb. 18, 2025, the date the issue was discovered and the battery replaced. Peters said the vaccines were kept at the appropriate safe temperature — between 35.6 and 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit — before and after that time period. She also stated that there is no documentation stating the temperatures fell out of the range during the June-to-February time span, but that Family Health Services erred on the side of caution. "It was my decision as medical director to look at this as a worst-case scenario," Peters said. "It was determined that there are no detrimental side effects of receiving an ineffective vaccine." The incident was investigated by the Ohio Department of Health. Peters said the state agency did not give Family Health Services a warning, sanction or fine as a result. Backup logs recording the temperature were not completed, Peters said. Erie County health commissioner Pete Schade said the oversight raises red flags. "Vaccines need to be stored within a certain range and records have to be kept," he said. "This incident is concerning." Notice delayed months While the problem was discovered in February, parents did not recieve notification of the issue until August. The state department of health required Family Health Services to draft a notification letter by June. That letter was submitted and approved on June 10, but a Family Health Services employee failed to send out the notices then, Peters said. That failure was discovered on Aug. 22, and letters were sent out on Aug. 25, she said. Sandusky Schools was notified of the issue verbally much earlier, on April 29. Peters said she told the school district at that time there was a problem with the vaccine program and that the Ohio Department of Health was investigating. 'Should have been told immediately' One parent of a child vaccinated by Family Health Services, and who received that notification letter, told the newspaper they were confused about why it took so long for notice to reach them. "I wasn't aware of how long they've known until this morning," Jessie Rodocker said. "When I read the letter I was confused, caught off guard. I do feel somewhat bamboozled now. "We should've been told immediately," Rodocker added, saying her larger concern is for other students. "Luckily my son is in good health and rarely gets sick himself. However, knowing that there are potentially immunocompromised kids at his school who are now at a bigger risk is worrisome, especially in that flu epidemics seem to worsen every year." Leadership response David P. Tatro Sr., CEO of Family Health Services, spoke to a reporter about what occurred. "To my knowledge, no parents have reached out to the clinic since the letters went out," Tatro said. "This doesn't seem to be a serious issue, and we did all we can, everything the Ohio Department of Health required." Tatro also said Family Health Services would open its records to the newspaper, adding he wants to be "transparent." Corrective action ordered The Ohio Department of Health did not issue fines but directed Family Health Services to retrain staff, replace wasted doses and submit a new vaccine management plan. The clinic said it has updated data loggers, added alarms, retrained staff and begun daily temperature checks overseen by managers. Questions sent by the newspaper to Sandusky Schools were not answered by press time, but a spokesperson indicated the district would respond this week. The Erie County Health Department additionally said it would conduct an analysis to see if any communicable disease activity can be tied to vaccines given by Family Health Services during that time.