12 Month Immunisation for 4 Month Old..

Jesse had his 4 month Needles today. My doctor left a message on my phone to call him back afterwards, so i did. He was with a patient so called me back and told me he gave Jesse the WRONG NEEDLE!!!! How could you do that??? Its human error i know but he gave him the MMR instead of the DTP one!!! Thats the 12 months needle instead of the 4 months needle!!! OMG i was in tears :crying: I still kinda am.
He said he called the registry and they said it should be fine but he still needs to have the DTP and the MMR at 12 months. He said to just keep an eye on him, he may get a rash in a week or too which is the measles rash. So i called the Kidsnet Help line at Westmead Childrens Hospital as i wanted a second opinion and they said he should be fine. She was super nice. She said if he gets a fever of over 38 or starts vomiting then he needs to go into Hospital and may get that rash in a week but doesnt mean he has Measles, is just reaction. So now he has to have another jab next week too. My poor lil boy. Though obviously im more upset than him but im still dumfounded that he gave him the 12 month needles.

Just wondering if anyone else's doctor has done this to them? Im sure its very rare but im still worried even though they say he should be fine :frown:

OMG!! No, that has never happened to me, but by god I'd be fuming if it had!!!

I thought those kinds of things were meant to be double-checked?! I know that at the Doctor's Surgery where Jacob and Ruby have their needles, the nurse prepares them, then takes them to the Doctor and then the nurse actually gives them - so effectively 2 people look at the needles before they are administered!

I'd be giving serious consideration to making a formal complaint about it!!!!

I can totally understand why you are so upset! My blood is boiling just thinking about it!

oh Kell. Thats terrible. Don't worry, hun - just keep an eye on him. He should be fine. That Dr is a freakin idiot.

I know, youd think with an injection you would definately check what youre suppose to be giving.. especially for a little baby! Im still in shock i think. I have the biggest headache from worry and stress. I just cant believe it.
For his 2 month needles, the nurse went and got the stuff and he administered it but this one he went and got the stuff himself.

Im so angry and upset i feel sick.. i was so worried to start with for days about him just getting the needles and now they were the wrong ones! Nothing better happen to him that all i can say! My poor lil man :frown:

Thanks for your support guys :)

Yeh ill see how he goes. He's asleep at the moment poor little guy. He seemed happy enough before his sleep and he doesnt have a temperature yet, but if he gets one ill be straight out the door.

Thanks mate.

The MMR is considered safe for children under the age of one year - the reason it is not given on the schedule is that their immune system, at that age, will not have a significant enough reaction to it, and as a result, they won't get any lasting immunity from it. After the age of 1, their immune system is mature enough to react to it, and they get a moderate immunity - however, they still need the doses repeated at intervals, which is why they give three lots of the MMR on the schedule - it takes three doses to achieve a long-lasting immunity.

Hypothetically, if you wait until the age of four or five, you only need one dose to achieve a long-lasting immunity.

So, the immunisation is no more dangerous to a 4 month old than it is to a 12 month old. It just isn't as effective.

That said, I would strongly encourage you to amke a formal complaint - in writing. Both to the surgery, and to the AMA. An error like this has the potential to be fatal, and I am not exagerating. There are stringent rules in place about the checking and administration of vaccines because, mis-handled, they can be lethal. This surgery cannot be allowed to get away with such lax medication and vaccination handling policies. This is an absolute disgrace.

Thanks Michael. Knowing that has made me feel alot better.

I agree it was an absolute disgrace. We'll think about the complaint. This Dr has been DH's family doctor forever so he doesnt want to do anything.. im still in shock about it all i think. As long as Jesse's ok thats all i care about. Im really thinking twice about going back to him though.

Thanks again everyone for your concerns.

Kellxx- I agree with a couple of the others here, I really think you should make a formal complaint about it as obviously the surgeries procedures and protocols for handling vaccines aren't stringent enough. It is good to know that the vaccine administered isn't dangerous to him, but I'm sure plenty of other vaccines in the surgeries fridge may have been.
I'm really happy to hear that little Jesse will likely be fine from the incorrect vaccine (other than the usual possible side effects). Poor little bugger about needing to be re-vaccinated tho!

And big hugs to you - you've had more stress than a new mum needs today.

OMG how disgusting!! I agree with everyone, a formal complaint is in order!! One day it might a fatal mistake for someones poor baby...

I hope jesse will be fine... thinking of you kel :hug:

OMG ((((((hugs )))))) you poor thing i know how i felt every time needle time rocked around with Ryan and the other 2 i can't begin to know how you are feeling but i can guess scared and angry and so you should be if you have any worried at all straight to the ER what a toss of a doctor i wouldn't be going back him

I can not believe that it would happen either... aren't Dr's meant to have the drugs checked like nurses do???

You poor thng, I can only imagine how mad and upset you are... Hugest hugs and fingers crossed Jesse is fine... as I am sure he will be..

Mel

Kell, I have asked a few friends that have extensive immunisation knowledge and they have all told me to strongly advise you to please wait a few weeks to carry on with the schedule to not overload the poor little guys system.

I must add that these people are all anti immunisation anyway, but maybe better to be safe than sorry?

I hope Jesse is feeling okay and you're not so stressed now. Big hugs to you hun.

Thanks again for all your concerns, really means alot.

Jesse seems to be his happy self so far, but am keeping a very close eye on him.
Nat, Will see how he goes over the next week and as to whether the rash will break out. I want to go back to that doctor next week to tell him what i think of him.
DH doesnt want to forward any complaints but everyone around me is saying i should.. in a way i have to respect DH's decisions.. but im looking for another doctor anyways. Its just something i cant risk, Jesse is too precious to me. Once i find one im going to send an anonomous letter. We're just so lucky it was something that wasnt too harmful.. if he had picked up something like a flu injection or something that was meant for an adult, who knows what would have happened to little Jesse.. i dont even want to think.

Thanks again for all your hugs... Ill go give them to Jess now.. he loves cuddles :)

I'm happy to hear that Jesse is ok ...

I think finding another doctor is a great idea, do you have any friends who could recommend one to you?

No unfortunately. Im kinda new to this area, i grew up on the beaches. I really should join a mothers group or something.
But yeh, if anyone can recommend a Doctor around the Hawkesbury area that would be great :)

Hey Kell, there are heaps of girls around that area. Here is our Local Member thread.

eta i REMOVED THIS LINK BECAUSE IT WAS WRONG, LOL

Oh cool.. thanks so much Nat.. um i think you may have posted the wrong link?

LMAO did I - hold on.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...splay.php?f=75

Try that, and just go to NSW and ACT, lol
Sorry hun

He seems fine so far thanks Caro. He's asleep now but had been his happy self so far. Didnt even get a temp last night either like he did with his 2 month needles. No spots so far.. so fingers crossed he stays that way :)

Hehee.. thanks again Nat, youre a gem ;)

So glad that Jesse is doing well Kelly... what a scare

That is rediculous! I cant believe that would actually happen, i understand human error, but come on .... this is a baby and putting a foreign object in its body! This has never happened to me but i will make sure the doctor double checks it next time before administering it!

Hi Kelly,

I know someone who got a similar phone call to you, but different circumstances.

They were called to be told that their 18month old had been given the 6 month injections. Thing is, their daughter *was* six months old, but medicare had her details wrong and it said she was 18months.

But still, its the same mistake, she's just lucky that they made it rather than unlucky.

ETA - This was at a council run immunisation, not at a doctors surgery.

Really? Thats terrible even so to give them that scare. You'd think the doctor would know the difference between a 6 month old and an 18 month old? At least she was given the right one in the end though. I think Doctors really need to be more careful, ok human error, but especially when dealing with little babies.

Thanks Mel.

Newmumlou.. yeh definately.. ill be checking with everything he's given from now on for sure.. its just too risky and important to get it right.

Kell, I would be strongly advising you to lodge a complaint & explaining to your DH that had it been numerous other drugs stored at the DR's injected into your son it could have killed him, would the DR then be owning up? It could be smeone else's child that could be killed today, tomorrow or in the future due to the procedure for inections obviously not being followed, can your DH allow that?

I think if anything the DR should be saying Thank-you for having a new procedure set in place & checked over thoroughly PRIOR to killing someone...

I am glad Jesse is OK..

((hugs))

I agree with Tracey, this could happen again with far more dire results if you don't report it. I would be devastated if this happened, thank goodness its not dangerous and Jesse is gooing to be fine. Its traumatic enough getting their needles done without this isn't it? On a similar line my gf took her 4 yr old for his "school" needles which was fairly traumatic but then surgery rang a few days later and said "sorry one of our fridges wasn't working so the vaccine wasn't cold enough he'll need to be done again!" Needless to say neither mum nor child was happy about that!

Just also thinking about it (sorry Kell) But Jesse may not be the first time it's happened, it may now have happened to him, coz another person/parent whoever had similar experience & never reported it... They could have prevented it from happening to you & you can now prevent it from happening again...

I think if I ran a prictise I'd wnat to know & have to answer to it, as if he has partners etc in the practise who's to say they know their jobs properly!!

I just think it's a tad to serious to brush under the mat, I can see & understand your DH's situation, it is very difficult, but at the same time, it's just lucky it wasnt serious this time, who knows about next!!!

I cannot believe that happened!!! I would be absolutely furious. It's such a big thing for them to get injections let alone the wrong one. I hope he's okay.

Kell, I have always taken the kids to the Hawkesbury Hospital for their needles. They run the immunisation clinic at the community health centre. I am always more then happy with how they do the needles. You see them check the needles & have the other nurse check before giving them. They are always very caring towards me & my babies. I highly recomend using the clinic for needles. Other then the fact they are so good, your also at the best venue incase of a reaction, the hospital!
As for Dr's in the local area, I go to Dr Hanna Eskanda at North Richmond. She is nice. My only complaint about her is she isn't the greatest when their is little ones touching all the things in her office. She never says anything but you can tell it gets on her nerves that they might break something. If only she would bring some toys to put in the corner rather then her expensive equipment with all the interesting buttons!

I believe he would have written an incident report himself - else why would he call and admit it.They keep records of the batch numbers given in case there are reactions/problems etc.

I would be very upset if it happened to my sons too, Kell.I hope Jesse is okay.
Fiona, we go to immunisation clinics too.They have after hours ones so Dh can come too.The last 3 times the exact same nurses have been there and given each of the boys their injections.I trust them completely.

We go to Bligh Park Family Medical practice (at shops)- one of the main experienced drs has a baby son a little older than ours and he has been there a while but is still young.They have toys and books there too.

I always go to the evening one as well. Its always the same nurses on too. I also trust them 100%. My kids have never made a big fuss about getting the needle & I think its because of the nurses technique. I had Glenn done once at the clinic during a day session & it was a different nurse, I didn't like her, it took a good 15 minuted to calm poor glenn down after his 4mth shots. The problem was she just jabbed him as soon as he was layed down, rather then letting him relax in the position, so he was all tense when she did it & I think that made it hurt more.

Thats great to know, thanks Fiona. This doctor was in Richmond. I would see a lady doctor at the same practice for my girly things, but i dunno.. she doesnt seem to be all there sometimes so im not really keen on Jesse now going to her.. but i may serach that other one in North Richmond down. Do they bulk bill?
Yeh i remember the midwives saying there was the free immunisations at the clinics but we thought we'd just be best going to our regular GP so he had it all on record.. boy were we wrong.

We're really close to bligh park too Baby~amore.. we're on Macquarie Street so its only 2 minutes away. Might even think about going there too.

Jess is still going strong.. he's a little trooper. Only just getting over his needle grumpiness and now he has to have another jab.. poor thing.

Thanks again for all your concerns

xx

Ps.. Fionajill.. Isla is absolutely gorgeous in your ticker!!

The Health clinic records it in the blue book and sends it to Govt as well I think through medicare so it is on record for Immunisation payment after 18/12 months injections.

The Bligh Park practice some Drs bulk bill after 1st visit for the year.But not all.

You can ring health centre and ask they have the clinics Bligh Park too.It wouldn't hurt to ring and ask them about when he should have the proper 4/12 injections either.They are lovely.

Dr Eskanda bulk bills for patients with a health care card. Hers is the North Richmond Family practice, next to the chemist, next to video ezy.