The Marion Board of Health is hoping to recover the almost $5,000 in damages caused by the failure of a vaccine refrigerator that resulted in the loss of at least 18 different vaccine doses.
Marion Health Director Karen Walega in a September 15 memorandum to Town Administrator Paul Dawson listed the different vaccines lost and the exact cost to replace them, and in a memorandum to the Board of Health dated October 8, Walega listed the additional expenses incurred in the replacement of the broken refrigerator.
The incident, which occurred on August 17, involved the failure of the special vaccine refrigerator temperature control mechanism. Once the malfunction was discovered, the vaccines inside the refrigerator were transported to the police station for storage in a different refrigerator until the town was notified by the state that the vaccines could not be used.
Lost were ten doses of Prevnar 13 (pneumonia) at a cost of $1,795, two vials of Tuberculin (used to test for Tuberculosis) at a cost of $130, six doses of Zoster vax (shingles) costing $1,140, and an undisclosed amount of Adacol (Tdap) at a cost of about $150, for a total loss of about $3,200.
The new refrigerator compliant with CDC regulations costs $1,500 with wiring costing another $240.
“We are still waiting on the insurance,” said Walega on October 13 during a meeting of the Board of Health. “I don’t understand why they (the town’s insurance company) haven’t gotten in touch with Paul [Dawson].”
Walega said there are enough supplies for the two subsequent flu clinics scheduled for October 26 and November 9 from 2:00 to 6:30 pm at the Marion Town House. However, the majority of the vaccines lost have not yet been replaced.
“We don’t have that kind of money to replace it and we need it replaced,” said Walega.
Walega’s memo to the Board of Health questioned if the board would like to seek a reserve fund transfer at a future town meeting, but the board chose to hold off until Dawson hears back from the insurance company.
Also during the meeting, the board briefly discussed a letter Walega sent to Robert Thompson of Rochester regarding the proposed e-cigarette retail store he would like to open in Marion. Walega attached a copy of the town’s current tobacco and nicotine product regulations in her letter to Thompson, reminding him that he will need to contact the Health Office once a location is selected.
Thompson was also reminded that the Board of Health is in the process of amending its tobacco and nicotine regulations to increase the minimum age for tobacco and nicotine products sales to age 21, as well as some changes to the sale of specific tobacco items, such as single cigars and “blunts.”
An attorney for the board has drafted part of the amended bylaw regarding the age minimum, but work is still being done on the remaining language. No date has yet been set for a public hearing on the new tobacco and nicotine regulations.
The next meeting of the Marion Board of Health is scheduled for October 27 at 4:30 pm at the Marion Town House.
By Jean Perry
