Child receives wrong dose at flu clinic

Peel Public Health is employing stricter measures after a four-year-old child was given a higher dose of the H1N1 vaccine at a flu clinic in Brampton on Monday.
“Unfortunately, a medication error was made at one of our clinics on Monday evening,” said Dr. Kathleen Dooling, Peel’s associate medical officer of health. “We sincerely regret that this incident occurred and we are taking it very seriously.”
Peel Health issued a statement following a letter submitted to The Guardian regarding a mishap at the H1N1 vaccine clinic on Indell Lane. The letter author, who later asked not to be identified, expressed concern that, for a time, adult dosages (0.5 mL) of the vaccine were being administered to children under the age of six, including her four-year-old grandson. A child dose is 0.25 mL, though there are no significant side effects for children that receive the adult dosage level, according to Peel Health.
The woman also said that the nurse who inoculated her grandson was pulled from her station and an incident report was filed. The woman said health officials pulled out paperwork for children under age six and contacted the parents whose children may have received the higher dose. Peel officials would not confirm that multiple children received an adult dosage of the vaccine.