Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital at Sandy Bay announces vaccination incident

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for the Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital at Sandy Bay (DKCH) made the following announcement today (October 12) on an incident concerning a vaccine injection:
 
     The Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme commenced in DKCH on October 10 for hospital staff and volunteers. During inventory checking this morning, it was found that 19 hospital staff and two volunteers had been wrongly injected with tetanus vaccine. It is suspected that the two vaccines got mixed up during distribution yesterday (October 11). No other vaccines or patients have been affected.
 
     The DKCH has contacted all 21 persons to explain and extend its apology. Generally speaking, a tetanus vaccine injection would not result in serious side effects. The hospital will closely monitor their condition and will arrange follow up consultations in the staff clinic if necessary. 
 
     The hospital has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office via the Advance Incident Reporting System. An investigation panel will be formed to review the case. The Hong Kong West Cluster (HKWC) will review the vaccine storage, distribution and delivery, and the injection process at all HKWC hospitals. Staff are reminded to follow the medication verification protocol. Regular inventory checking should also be performed as a safety precaution.