SWPH: up to six affected by vaccine dispensing error

Southwestern Public Health, in a statement on Tuesday, Dec. 21, announced an error, supposedly a harmless one, had been made in dispensing COVID-19 vaccine at its mass-immunization clinic in St. Thomas on November 30.

Up to six individuals, or about two percent of those who attended the clinic that day, might have received a dose of saline solution, a mix of salt and water often used in medicine, instead of vaccine, SWPH said. The mistake had been the result of human error, and saline solution was harmless to humans.

No children under 11 were involved, the health unit asserted.

Southwestern, following advice from Public Health Ontario, was working to identify and contact the individuals involved.

“We acknowledge the stress this will cause individuals vaccinated on Nov. 30 at the St. Thomas clinic. Please be assured that this matter was identified quickly and is an isolated incident.”

“Southwestern Public Health took immediate steps to review its quality assurance practices at all vaccination clinics to ensure this error does not happen again.”