Rite Aid was forced to write a formal apology letter after it was reported that two undocumented women were reportedly denied COVID-19 vaccines - one in Laguna Nigel, the other in Mission Hills.
Rite Aid spokesperson Christopher Savarese told ABC News these were "isolated" incidents and that employees had not been properly trained in vaccine eligibility.
"In such an unprecedented rollout, there are going to be mistakes and there will be always areas for providers to improve -- we’re seeking out those opportunities every day," Rite Aid officials wrote in a statement sent to ABC News.
Savarese added, "This is very important to us that this is corrected. Both of the situations that we're talking about have been resolved, and both of those people will be getting their vaccine at Rite Aid."
Rite Aid was forced to issue the apology after Sebastian Araujo, the son of the woman turned away at the Mission Hills location, posted the news on social media and caught the attention of lawmakers such as California's 29th District Representative Tony Cardenas.
"That is not a requirement whatsoever at the federal, state or local level and that organization has been told very clearly that that was wrong and they immediately apologized for doing so, but it left the woman very distraught," Rep. Cardenas told ABC-7.
Araujo’s mother was able to receive a vaccine at a different Rite Aid.
Another woman, who asked not to be identified, said the pharmacist demanded she provide a social security card and was told priority for vaccines went to U.S. citizens.
Rite Aid rescheduled a vaccination appointment for the woman later in the same week.
Rite Aid has since made changes to its website regarding ID needed for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Where a driver's license and social security card were once listed as acceptable government-issued forms of identification, now there is no mention of a social security card and a note was added reading, "You will not be turned away if you do not have photo ID or insurance."