Apology from Health Department after vaccine error involving toddlers

The Department of Health has issued an apology for administering the wrong vaccines to two toddlers due to human errors. 

Authorities have reassured the public that the incident poses no harm to the health of the affected children, who have not shown any adverse reactions thus far.

The toddlers were scheduled to receive the Hepatitis B vaccine at the Tin Shui Wai Health Centre on Monday but instead received pneumococcal vaccines designed to protect against the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. 

The error was identified when staff noticed a discrepancy in the number of vaccines administered between 4pm and 5.30pm that day.

In total, seven toddlers aged between one and seven months received the jabs during that time of which two of them were given incorrect jobs. 

The Department of Health has promptly informed the parents, apologized for the mistake, and arranged for pediatric specialists to evaluate the children's conditions as soon as possible.

The department has committed to ensuring that the affected children receive the Hepatitis B vaccine at the appropriate time, along with the three doses of pneumococcal vaccines as outlined in the Hong Kong Childhood Immunization Program. 

They also said that the incident was attributed to human error, and the nurse involved has been suspended from administering vaccines.

(Wallis Wang)