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We thank our customers for their willingness to share information with public officials and for their patience during this investigation. Although we had no connection with these flu clinics, we want to do everything possible to assist law enforcement and public health officials. What Has Happened? Our Lynden Food Pavilion, Lynden and Blaine Cost Cutter stores have raised questions about flu vaccine clinics conducted by a licensed Registered Nurse. In early November a person representing herself as part of Visiting Nurse and Pacific Coast Consultants contacted us indicating that they had received a supply of flu vaccine. Visiting Nurse is a reputable healthcare organization with whom we've worked in the past. Our store managers, in order to be of service to the community, agreed to allow the vaccines to be given at our stores. All money paid went directly to the Nurse (a woman), with nothing received by our stores, although we did extend check-cashing privileges to some customers at no charge so that they would have the cash to pay for their shots. These flu shot clinics had no business connection to our stores; we thought we were simply allowing free use of our facilities for a good public cause. After receiving a call from one of our customers about her arm not being sore (as might be expected by some after receiving a flu shot), we attempted to locate the Registered Nurse who had conducted the clinics and were unable to do so. We immediately contacted the Whatcom County Health Department and also learned from Visiting Nurse that they had not been involved in sponsoring any flu shot clinics. We then notified the Lynden Police Department of a suspicious circumstance. The Whatcom County Health Department and Lynden Police were able to find the Nurse and interview her. They are investigating the circumstances surrounding these incidents and verifying the source of the vaccines used. On December 4, the Food and Drug Administration's Criminal Forensics Lab in Cincinnati, Ohio, confirmed that the vaccine samples provided by the Nurse did contain pure, valid flu vaccine, and were not tampered with and contained no toxins. What to Do Some vaccine recipients may have chosen to consult with their primary care physicians with any concerns they have about possible health issues related to this incident. For those who have done so, Brown & Cole Stores will reimburse them for any verifiable unreimbursed expense related to their initial physician consultations. Any customer wishing reimbursement should submit copies of the medical bill to the store manager where they received the shot. Also, customers may call our Customer Hotline at 1-800-743-0414. This courtesy is extended as a means to minimize any unease created by this incident and is in the spirit of our original intent to provide a public service to the community. We are sorry for any inconvenience or concern that this matter may have caused. |
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