58yo M’sian Woman Receives Wrong Vaccine For 2nd Dose, JKN Kedah Apologises

The Kedah State Health Department (JKN) issued an apology to a Covid-19 vaccine recipient and her family after they mistakenly administered the wrong vaccine for the individual’s second dose injection. This incident occurred at a vaccination centre (PPV) in Sik on 5 August.

According to Sinar Harian and Harian Metro, Kedah State Health Director, Dr Othman Warijo said, the mistake took place because the nurse at the PPV did not check the recipient’s vaccine card before injecting the patient.

“The incident was reported on 5 August at 8.25 am in Injection Room 1, PPV Dewan Al Hana, Sik. The recipient of the vaccine was a 58-year-old woman who went to the PPV to get her second dose injection of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech,” he said.

“The mistake occurred when the nurse injected the woman with Sinovac vaccine instead. The mistake was noticed by another staff and it was immediately informed to the supervisor and manager of the PPV,” he said explained.

He added that on that day, there was more than one type of vaccine used in the hall, namely 1,043 injections for the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 141 second doses of Sinovac vaccine and 223 second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech.

Explaining further, Dr Othman said the separation and route of the injection recipients to the immunisation room of the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech, the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech and the second dose of Sinovac were done so that different vaccine injection errors did not occur.

He said the guidelines for handling the vaccine were also always given by the nurse’s supervisor before the start of the daily immunisation session.

“The nurse involved has admitted the mistake and has personally apologised to the recipient of the vaccine. She has also been reprimanded, given counselling, and rest from work that day,” he said.

As for the 58-year-old woman, Dr Othman said she was referred to a medical officer for counseling and received information of the side effects of the vaccine that usually occurs after being injected.

“The vaccine recipient accepted the information given and forgave the nurse. The vaccine recipient was allowed to leave after being monitored,” he said.

He added that JKN Kedah is concerned and more aware after the incident to ensure that mistakes do not recur. He also assured that compliance with the guidelines for vaccination will be further emphasised towards the staff at the PPV and will always be monitored by the supervisor or manager of PPV.

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