ALOR STAR – The Kedah Health Department apologised to a Covid-19 vaccine recipient and her family after she was mistakenly given the wrong type of vaccine for her second dose at a vaccination centre in Sik last Thursday.
Kedah Health director Dr Othman Warijo said based on investigations, the mistake occurred after a nurse at the centre failed to check the details on her vaccination card.
“The incident occurred on August 5 at 8.25am at Injection Room 1, Dewan Al Hana in Sik. The recipient was a 58-year-old woman who came to get her second Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine dose.
“The mistake happened after the nurse administered the Sinovac vaccine. This mistake was noticed by other workers who then immediately informed the centre manager and supervisor,” he said in a statement today.
He said on that day, there was more than one type of vaccine used in the hall, namely 1,043 shots of the first Pfizer dose, 141 second Sinovac doses, and 223 second Pfizer doses.
Dr Othman said isolation and lane separation for vaccine recipients heading towards the immunisation room for the first and second Pfizer doses, and the second Sinovac dose have been implemented to prevent errors.
He said vaccine handling guidelines were also issued daily by the supervisor nurse before the start of vaccination sessions.
“The nurse involved has admitted her mistake and personally apologised to the recipient of the vaccine. She was also reprimanded, given counseling, and taken off duty that day,” he said.
Dr Othman said as soon as the mistake was realised, the vaccine recipient was referred to a medical officer for counselling and given clarification on the side effects of the vaccine that usually occur after the shot.
“The recipient accepted the explanation and forgave the nurse. The recipient underwent observation before she was allowed home,” he said.
He said the department was very concerned over the incident and to prevent similar mistakes, staff would be instructed to ensure all vaccination guidelines are followed, and also monitored by the centre supervisor or manager. – Bernama, August 9, 2021
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