Mariano’s Gives Patients The Wrong COVID-19 Second Dose

AURORA, IL— A Mariano's pharmacy accidentally gave the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shot to eight people who received Moderna for their first dose, a spokesperson for the grocery store said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the two vaccines are not meant to be interchangeable as both shots should come from the same manufacturer.

Amanda Puck, Mariano's director of strategic brand development, said the popular grocery store chain is investigating how the mix-up happened. It was reported to both the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“No adverse events for the affected patients have been reported,” Puck said in a statement. “All impacted patients have been contacted. We thank these patients for their understanding and have apologized for their inconvenience.”

The CDC website stresses the importance of ensuring the two-shot regimen is completed with the same product, but also says in "exceptional situations" any mRNA COVID-19 vaccine can be used as a second dose. Both Pfizer and Moderna use mRNA technology while Johnson & Johnson uses virus-based technology.

As vaccines become more readily available and appointments move faster and faster, public health officials encourage people to check with the person administering your injection to make sure the product is both the one you want and the same as your first dose.

The CDC website states “the safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series have not been evaluated." If two different vaccines are administered unknowingly, no additional doses are recommended.