Approximately 112 children were given the wrong dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy in Virginia that did not have the new vaccines.
The Loudoun County Health Department reported that Ted Pharmacy in Aldie “incorrectly administered” partial doses of the vaccine intended for adults to children.
David Goodfriend, the director of the health department, told the Washington Post “Our understanding from Ted Pharmacy is they were trying to do a workaround, which is not authorized”.
“Because they did not have the children’s formulation they used the adult formulation but only gave a third of the amount to the children,” Goodfriend explained.
“If it doesn’t all go in, or it goes into the body but doesn’t go into the muscle, or you didn’t draw it up exactly to the [correct] line, there’s a chance you might get too little vaccine,” he added. “There’s also a chance it could have given too much”.
The pharmacy’s remaining vaccines were confiscated and it was ordered to contact the families of children who received the incorrect shot.
Parents were given CDC guidance to follow through with a second shot three weeks later or restart the two shots.
One parent, Dasha Hermosilla, told Fox 5 that she realized the vaccine was incorrect because of the color of the cap.
“I would have never done this if I knew they were giving the adult reformulated vaccine. Absolutely not,” Hermosilla said. “I should’ve pushed her to show me the vial of orange which she didn’t have and then I should’ve left”.
