Thousands of patients warned after vaccine bungle
Thousands of patients vaccinated by two Sydney GPs will have to be revaccinated after vaccines were found to have expired or not been stored properly.
Vaccines at a Burwood (NSW) general practice were improperly stored in the practice refrigerator – leaving some too hot or cold – while others were expired.
So, patients vaccinated since 1 January 2010 by Drs Darrel and Brinda Weinman at 40 Lindsay Street, Burwood, NSW, have been recommended to get revaccinated as any vaccines given may not have been effective.
According to AJP, the investigation found that vaccines such as MMR, pertussis, hepatitis B and influenza among others were affected. Private vaccines were not affected and there is no evidence that travel vaccines were stored at the practice.
About 3000 patients have already been contacted.
“However, due to inconsistent record keeping at the practice, it has been difficult to identify which patients have been vaccinated and to obtain contact details for all patients,” said Sydney Local Health District Clinical Director of Public Health, Dr Leena Gupta.
“While NSW Health does not have responsibility for GPs, we are assisting co-regulators the Medical Council of NSW and the NSW HealthCare Complaints Commission in investigating and responding to these incidents,” said Dr Gupta.
Patients will need to find a new GP for revaccination as the Burwood practice is now closed
Any patients of the practice who have not yet received a letter from the Sydney Local Health District are encouraged to visit the website or ring 1800 959 939 for more information.
Accepted that the investigation is proceeding, but a very firm statement is warranted that those responsible for the lapses in management control and record keeping will be identified and action taken in their respect. It is not enough that the 'Burwood practice' is now closed, the person/s responsible would presumably still be working in the field or could do so in the future.
How can the public manage their own health if there is likely to be no public reporting?
In a world where a footballer is castigated publicly and loses his job for quoting a passage from the Bible, shouldn't this be receiving more attention?