Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Tim Nelson and Elizabeth Dunbar
St. Paul, Minn.

Frozen H1N1 vaccine prompts revaccination in N.D.

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Health officials in North Dakota are warning that some H1N1 flu vaccine used for health workers and vulnerable individuals might have frozen on its way to health clinics and other sites.

The Department of Health said Wednesday that about 1,100 doses of the injectable H1N1 vaccine were either frozen or reached temperatures below levels recommended for shipping. The affected doses make up less than 5 percent of the total injectable and Flumist vaccine the state had received so far--just over 24,000 doses. Health officials had given a previous estimate of 1,700 affected doses.

Some officials receiving the vaccine shipments called the health department after seeing that the freeze indicator on the packages was out of range. The health department then notified providers on Monday about the frozen vaccine, and said 150 or so people should get revaccinated because of concern that the vaccine they received wasn't effective. The rest of the affected vaccine won't be used.

"There's no issue with the safety of the vaccine, but we are concerned about the effectiveness of the vaccine," said Tim Wiedrich, who oversees emergency preparedness and response for the health department.

Wiedrich said there are a variety of things that could have led to the frozen vaccine, including the outside air temperature, the shipping package's insulation and the location of the temperature monitors within the package.

"We're still looking into that situation," he said.

North Dakota received the vaccine this month, repackaged it on Oct. 14 and sent it to 99 providers across the state. Thirty providers said the temperature indicators showed the vaccine was frozen. Officials are still checking with six other providers.