While Australia launched its vaccination campaign a few days ago, an incident in the administration of the serum developed by Pfizer / BioNTech was noted in Brisbane.
A doctor responsible for vaccination in a nursing home administered four times the recommended dose to two residents, aged 88 and 94. A nurse who realized the error immediately alerted the health authorities.
An investigation was opened by the Australian health service and the doctor was dismissed from his post. According to the first elements of explanation, the doctor would not have been trained in the administration of the anti-Covid vaccine, training however compulsory.
No adverse reaction
“We are awaiting a detailed report,” said Greg Hunt, federal Minister of Health, quoted by the Guardian. The latter also expressed his apologies to the families of the two residents.
The latter, placed under close medical supervision, “show no sign of an adverse reaction,” also said Greg Hunt.
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Australia launched its vaccination campaign last Monday. 60,000 doses of vaccine must be administered during this first week, intended for the priority public (caregivers, police officers, employees of quarantine hotels and residents of retirement homes).
According to physician and infectious disease specialist Peter Collignon, this incident underscores the importance of staff training in vaccination. “Depending on the vaccine, it may contain enough doses for four to six people. The mistake people can sometimes make if they are not well trained is giving too much to a person, ”he said. Peter Collignon puts it into perspective, however: “the main problem in most cases will be the wastage of the vaccine rather than serious side effects”.
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