Safeway Confirms Theft of 138 DC Clinic Vaccine Records

BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Safeway today announced that on September 8, an employee who facilitated Safeway’s offsite COVID vaccine clinic at the Fort Stanton Recreation Center (1812 Erie St. SE, Washington, DC 20020) was the victim of a theft. Among other stolen items were 138 paper COVID-19 vaccine consent forms for patients who visited this site on September 2, 4, or 7. Safeway immediately notified law enforcement and started an internal investigation.

Safeway currently has no indications that any of the stolen information has been misused; nevertheless, on September 16, Safeway sent notifications by U.S. mail to all individuals that it could identify as being impacted. Safeway is also asking anyone who attended the clinic on September 2, 4, or 7, to please call 202-941-6412 so that Safeway may ensure that its electronic records accurately reflect patients’ vaccination status.

“Safeway Pharmacies make every effort to handle patient records with the utmost care and privacy, and we deeply regret this situation,” said Amir Masood, Safeway Director of Pharmacy Operations, Eastern Division. “We notified the impacted patients that we could identify and we are taking measures to avoid a future occurrence, including improving training to reinforce controls and policies related to paper forms.” For further information, please contact Safeway’s HIPAA Privacy Office at [e-mail].

About Albertsons Companies
Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer that operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with more than 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market. The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood.