Wrong vaccinations given at 18 month appointment, worried about safety and next steps?

[jeIIy]

We took our 18mo DD for her 18mo vaccines today. The nurse administered the wrong vaccinations.

Instead of receiving MMRV and the 6-in-1, she received the MMRV, pneumococcal and Men B. The nurse apologised and explained that it had been very busy in clinic today and for some reason she had administered the 12 month schedule instead of the 18 month schedule.

I wondered if anyone had any experience of this? Also can anyone medical answer: Is it okay that DD has now had three doses of the pneumococcal and the Men B vaccinations? From a safety/side effects perspective?

I am not someone who complains - mistakes happen and we should learn from them. But how can this have happened? What if it had been much more serious?

Just hoping for someone to help me think it all through because I am gutted for DD that she had to have three (distressing) vaccinations today instead of two, gutted that she will now have to go back for another distressing experience to have the 6-in-1, and worried about if she will be okay.

Sorry don’t know the answer. I would call the surgery and explain and ask to speak to the nurse or a doctor.

The nurse should record it as a ‘significant event’. It should be recorded on the LFPSE service (learn from patient safety events).
They should also contact the local trust immunisation team to get the full information for you re risks etc and, when they respond, give you their full response, reassurance/guidance etc.

I’m shocked if they haven’t said they will do this. Please contact the surgery and speak to the senior nurse who should be able to ensure this is done for you.

So sorry, mistakes do occasionally happen, but you should not be left wondering about the safety of your child’s health which, although will likely be fine with no adverse effects, you shouldn’t be left to worry about, someone should be getting expert guidance on this for you to put your mind at rest.

@jeIIy I would have been furious, busy isn't an excuse for this at all.
And having made an unforgiveable mistake, the nurse should definitely have called a doctor in to evaluate and advise.
Poor you and poor DD having to go through extra jabs, they are awful and I still feel sick when I remember our little ones going through it.
I think this is an occasion when you do need to complain big time.
Hope you're both OK.

I think this is a serious matter which you need to clarify with the surgery. I would contact the Practice Manager, who should ensure that all the right procedures have been followed for an event of this kind, and provide an opportunity for you to speak with a suitably qualified health professional at the surgery who will, I’m sure, be able to give you some reassurance.

It is absolutely safe - if there is ever doubt about previous vaccine history, doses are still given which means some children get “extra” doses.
This website https://vaccineknowledge.ox.ac.uk/home
is really helpful for vaccine questions.
The DOH Green Book https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immunisation-against-infectious-disease-the-green-book is also good but not as easy to read IMO

Thank you, I will have a read through of these tonight.

Thanks all for your thoughts and suggestions. I have spoken to the practice manager and a GP will call me tomorrow for a chat. I will be kept informed of the outcome of the investigation into how it happened / what steps can be taken to make sure it doesn’t happen again. It will be reported as a serious event.

It’s safe but so upsetting for all concerned as as a practice nurse myself I expect she will have a sleepless night tonight. I have made a not dissimilar error myself and I was devastated.
There was an internal investigation done and as a result they gave me longer per appointment as the error had happened because I was over stretched. Anyway - that’s besides the point. I’m so sorry this happened and although your little one won’t be harmed it’s still not ok. Sending love.

I trust they will be having a good look at their system, to avoid any chance of repeat. I would not expect any problem at all from the extra pneumococcal and MenB jabs. I hope they are making sure that the missing jabs will be sorted out for your little one? Personally I am always more worried about missing jabs than extra ones, worrying though it must be for you.

You cannot over vaccinate so there is absolutely no harm done. Children with uncertain or missing immunisation histories get everything repeated anyway to be absolutely sure they’re protected.
As a practice nurse I feel for you, but also for the poor nurse. The changes to the immunisation schedules this year, child and adult, have been relentless with in some cases, contradictory guidance! Our Imms team were even giving out incorrect advice with regard to misunderstanding the schedule for MMRV. Two of my colleagues have both also made errors. I’m amazed it doesn’t happen more often.
But yes, a significant event etc should be raised.
Most GP’s though, wouldn’t have a clue about it all tbh.

Considering those vaccines can be given as boosters (and given to small babies) I would think they’re safe.

But that it happened in the first place is the issue - make sure it’s escalated through the proper means.