Air Force clinic on Okinawa shuts down to investigate potentially ineffective vaccines – Stars and Stripes

The 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, is investigating how the base clinic administered ineffective doses of MMR and chicken pox vaccines between May and June 2024. (Public Health Command - Pacific )

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa The 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base is investigating how the base clinic administered potentially ineffective vaccines to patients from May 3 through July 29, according to the wing medical group.

The affected vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella and chicken pox pose no health risks, according to a post Thursday evening by the 18th Medical Group on its official Facebook page.

The vaccines were temporarily stored at colder than recommended temperatures, rendering them ineffective, but not harmful, 18th Wing spokesman 1st Lt. Robert H. Dabbs said in an email Friday to Stars and Stripes.

The medical group immunizations staff will contact affected patients with information on corrective actions, according to the Facebook post.

Defense Logistics Agency Vaccine Storage and Transport Specialists and Defense Health Agency Immunizations Medical Directors were consulted to determine what effects the colder storage temperatures would have if any on the vaccines, Dabbs wrote. The experts concluded that the vaccines are safe, but potentially ineffective.

He declined to say how many of the vaccines were administered or the age range of the patients who received the vaccinations. It would be inappropriate to provide further details on patient information, he said.

The clinic will be closed while the 18th Wing conducts its investigation, the post states. It directed patients with urgent needs to U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa at Camp Foster.

Dabbs declined to say how long the clinic would be closed.

Anyone who received an MMR or Varicella vaccine between May 3 and July 29 should call the 18th Medical Group Patient Advocate at DSN 315-630-4146 if they are not contacted by medical staff by Thursday, the post states. The clinic limited comments on its post to encourage patients to call the clinic directly, Dabbs said.

In January, the Kadena clinic gave incorrect vaccines to four pediatric patients, according to a post on the medical group Facebook page. The post did not say which vaccines were incorrectly administered or whether any of the affected children had adverse reactions.

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Air Force clinic on Okinawa shuts down to investigate potentially ineffective vaccines - Stars and Stripes