Clinic vaccination errors
In an annual audit, authorities shut down a clinic in Salem County, N.J. that gave expired or wrong vaccinations to uninsured children through the Shots for Tots program between October 2014 and June 2015. The audit reveals a two-year-old boy was given an excessive dose of an HPV vaccination for cervical cancer (Gardasil), a one-year-old child was given a flu mist dose at the wrong age, two children were given expired vaccinations, and one child was given a wrong vaccination for an unconfirmed disease. Authorities also dispose of $20,000 worth of vaccines that perished following improper storage. Salem County Counsel:
If errors occur, errors occur. And you got to step up to the plate, and you have to make sure somebody’s not harmed further.
First measles death in 12 years
Health authorities confirm death of a woman due to measles-induced pneumonia, in Clallam County, Washington. The link is not spotted until a post-mortem examination because the woman lacked some common symptoms, such as a rash. The woman had been hospitalised for several health conditions in the spring and was on medication that had weakened her immune system. An autopsy concludes the cause of death is pneumonia due to measles. Washington officials say her death is not linked to Disneyland incident.
This tragic situation illustrates the importance of immunising as many people as possible to provide a high level of community protection against measles.
Utah vaccination recommended
Utah Department of Heath follows up with 200 potential cases of measles that may have come into contact with the two youth cases in Utah. Department Health Educator Becky Ward recommends vaccination to prevent larger cases as the virus may infect other individuals during the 10-12 days prior to visible symptoms.
Often people feel good enough to be out and about, and that is what we don’t want. Spread is possible, and public health officials are trying to reduce that to zero if we can. Make sure you’re vaccinated. Measles can kill, and it did before the vaccine came along. It can cause brain inflammation and seizures, among other things. It’s a very serious disease, and this is a good reminder for people to get vaccinated.