Indigenous Services Canada says people that were given Pfizer doses of COVID-19 recently at Saugeen First Nation may have received doses that were beyond their best before dates.
A statement from ISC this afternoon says between August 13th and September 9th, Pfizer doses administered at Saugeen First Nation were beyond their best before date of August 9th.
The federal agency says immediately upon learning of the error, an internal review was launched to "determine what led to the situation", and reached out to SON, the Grey Bruce Health Unit and Public Health Ontario for appropriate disclosure and reporting.
The statement notes that on Wednesday, September 22nd, ISC attempted to contact individuals to inform them about the error, and addressed questions and concerns.
They note that "while receiving a vaccine that is beyond its best before date does not pose health risks to the individual, the recommendation is for the individual to be revaccinated".
ISC notes that it "has taken steps to refine and reinforce its operational processes and guidelines", including revising training and vaccine education for ISC nurses to "stress the unique needs of the COVID-19 vaccine".
The Department says it "apologizes for the error and the concern that it may cause to the members of Saugeen First Nation".