Doctors urge new vaccines for kids

SANDUSKY — Local health leaders and pediatric specialists are pressing families to have children revaccinated if they received shots at the Family Health Services clinic inside Sandusky Schools between June 2024 and this past February. The warning follows a disclosure from Family Health Services that a thermometer monitoring a vaccine storage refrigerator died, and backup temperature logs were not recorded for nearly seven months. Without those records, several local medical professionals said it is impossible to prove the doses stayed within the safe temperature range, raising doubts about whether the doses given to students were effective at preventing infectious diseases. What happened? The thermometer issue occurred between June 27, 2024 and Feb. 18, 2025, the date the issue was uncovered by Family Health Services, said Dr. Mary Peters, the agency's medical director. Peters said the vaccines were kept at the appropriate safe temperature — between 35.6 and 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit — before and after that time period. She also stated that there is no documentation stating the temperatures fell out of the range during the June-to-February time span, but that Family Health Services erred on the side of caution. "It was my decision as medical director to look at this as a worst-case scenario," Peters said. "It was determined that there are no detrimental side effects of receiving an ineffective vaccine." From that refrigerator, 117 vaccine doses were administered to 65 children in the school district. Once the issue was uncovered, another 73 doses were disposed of. The incident was investigated by the Ohio Department of Health. Peters said the state agency did not give Family Health Services a warning, sanction or fine as a result. Free vaccines available Family Health Services is offering free revaccinations for Sandusky Schools students who received a shot during the time period of the thermometer malfunction. Other local medical professionals are also making revaccinations available at no cost. Erie County health commissioner Pete Schade said parents should not delay in contacting their family doctor or the county health office. Replacement doses will be given at no cost through the Erie County Health Department. "Any residents of our region who is a guardian that may have concerns over vaccine-preventable diseases for their children can contact us to schedule an appointment," Schade said. Dr. Robert Johnson, the pediatric inpatient medical director at Firelands Regional Medical Center and medical director of Peds on Wheels, said his team is prepared to step in as well. "I urge parents to immediately contact their primary care provider. If you don't have one, you can contact us and we will ensure these kids are immunized — we will even come out to your house to do it," Johnson said. Concerned about diseases In response to a public records request, epidemiologist Taylor Kula of the Erie County Health Department compiled local data on vaccine-preventable illnesses. From July 1, 2024, through Sept. 8, 2025, there were 2,090 reported cases. The bulk were COVID-19, though two suspected measles cases were reviewed before later being ruled out through advanced testing. Other diseases recorded in the county during that time period included: • Eight cases of varicella, also known as chicken pox • 16 cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough • One case of mumps • 166 cases of influenza that required hospitalization Both Schade and Johnson said measles remains their greatest concern. "The measles virus is the most contagious virus in the world," Johnson said. "If a child receives an ineffective dose after their first birthday, they might be unprotected. In an outbreak, it would spread fast." Schade recalled how close Erie County came to trouble in the past. "A few years back there was an outbreak in Holmes County and we were able to prevent several possibly infected individuals before they entered Cedar Point. We may have dodged a measles outbreak," he said. Johnson said the missing records undermine the safeguards built into vaccine programs. "The entire purpose of the logs are to prevent ineffective vaccines from being given and to trace dosages. Without that you have to assume all doses are ineffective," he said. "Vulnerability is created in the community. These children could have gotten sick, and measles has long-term complications that can kill even years later." Schade agreed that time is critical. "When there is even a potential issue with a vaccine, getting it solved and the children revaccinate time is of the essence," he said. School's response Sandusky Schools interim superintendent Denny Muratori said the district is focused squarely on student health and is working closely with officials. "Our number one priority is, were any kids harmed? That was our number one question," Muratori said, "and will be our number one concern going forward." According to Muratori, the district first learned about the problem when contacted by a reporter seeking records. That was followed by a Sept. 3 meeting where Family Health Services CEO David Tatro and Peters told school leaders "there is no evidence the vaccines were ineffective." Johnson disputes that claim. "There is no way to make that statement," Johnson said. "By CDC guidelines those vaccines are considered ineffective." Letter to parents Family Health Services stated that it crafted a letter to send to parents of children impacted by the issue in June, per a directive from the Ohio Department of Health, but an employee failed to send the letter. Peters said that failure was discovered in August and that the letter was sent out to parents on Aug. 25. The newspaper reviewed a copy of the letter, dated Aug. 22. It wasn't clear if parents had received the letter as of Friday. Timeline of events This timeline is compiled from information provided by Family Health Services and Sandusky Schools as of Friday: • June 27, 2024 — Last temperature check logged; staff noted the thermometer battery had failed, and had it replaced. • June 28, 2024 to Feb. 17, 2025 — No storage temperatures recorded in a seven-month time span. • Feb. 18, 2025 — Logging resumes after battery replacement; temperature recorded in safe range. • June 11, 2025 — The Ohio Department of Health orders Family Health Services to issue a letter to parents immediately, notifying them of the potential problem. • Aug. 22, 2025 — A letter bearing this date later surfaces after the newspaper reviewed a copy. It is unclear when the document was originally created or if any affected families had received a copy in their mailbox. • Sept. 3, 2025 — Meeting hosted with Family Health Services CEO David Tatro and Family Health Services medical director Dr. Mary Peters and Sandusky Schools officials; school officials are told "there is no evidence the vaccines were ineffective." • Sept. 3, 2025 — Erie County Health Department announces it is on standby to begin re-vaccinations. • Sept. 4, 2025, and after — Local health officials and providers urge re-vaccination; expanded clinics planned. What parents should do The medical professionals recommended parents and guardians of affected children contact their child's healthcare provider to confirm which vaccines need to be repeated. For revaccinations, the following healthcare providers are offering new shots at no cost: • Erie County Health Department; call 419-626-5623. • Peds on Wheels; call 419-217-7635. • Family Health Services; call 419-502-2800.