The Department of Health (DH) today said that it is investigating an incident involving residents of a care home for seniors being administered COVID-19 vaccines that had passed their recommended use-by date.

Preliminary investigations by the department have found that healthcare workers from Health & Young Ltd visited LUXE GARDEN in North District and administered Comirnaty XBB COVID-19 vaccines to two of the residents on December 18.

A review of the vaccine orders and records found that the vaccines had passed their recommended use-by date by 12 days. According to the manufacturer's recommendation, Comirnaty XBB COVID-19 vaccines should be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius after thawing and then used within 70 days.

The two residents did not feel ill. The department has requested that the care home and the medical organisation concerned closely monitor their health conditions.

The department said it is highly concerned about the incident and has conducted an inspection at the care home to check on its storage of vaccines and vaccination procedures.

The care home's staff were reminded to regularly check the recommended use-by dates of the vaccines, store vaccines with different recommended use-by dates separately, and dispose of expired vaccines in a timely manner in accordance with COVID-19 Vaccination Programme guidelines.

The department also advised the care home staff and the visiting doctor to improve their vaccine management procedures and internal communication, and urged the care home and the medical organisation to take immediate remedial actions to avoid similar incidents.

In addition, it sought information from the vaccine manufacturer on the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccines. Taking into account the affected residents' COVID-19 vaccination and infection history, it has concluded that there is no need for them to be revaccinated.

Meanwhile, the visiting doctor was instructed to monitor the health conditions of the affected residents. At the department's request, the doctor has explained the incident to them and their relatives.

The department has suspended vaccination services by the attending doctor in question and will probe whether the medical organisation and the care home concerned have complied with the department's guidelines.

If any person is found to have breached the guidelines or the terms and conditions of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, the department will handle the case according to established procedures.