by: Gio Battaglia
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Center for Disease Control and Prevention told News 8 Friday they recently sent out a notice to healthcare providers after more than 150 reports of the wrong RSV vaccinations was given to pregnant women and children.
News 8 inquired with the CDC after a caller was wondering why she wasn’t able to get the RSV vaccine after getting a prescription from her OB-GYN.
After a response from the CDC said the vaccine is administered from September to January, they also said their vaccine tracker system, Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, reported more than 150 children and pregnant women were given the wrong vaccine by doctor’s offices and pharmacies.
With the RSV vaccine only recently being approved for pregnant women. If they choose to, they are supposed to receive a dose of the maternal RSV vaccine abrysvo.
During weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy, administered before or during RSV season. Instead, they were receiving the GSK vaccine, Arexvy which is not approved for use during pregnancy.
An OB-GYN with Rochester Regional Health who told News 8 while there were no mix-ups in their healthcare system, she explained the importance of receiving the correct vaccine.
“The biggest issue would be that they wouldn’t be able to protect their baby,” Dr. Fran Haydanek with Rochester Regional Health. “Through vaccination of the pregnant patient, we still have ways to protect babies once they’re born. There are medications for babies, and I know a little less about that since that’s not my area of expertise. So, there would still possibly be the opportunity to protect babies that way once they’re born, but they just wouldn’t be able to pass that immunity on through pregnancy.”
The CDC said in their statement to News 8 that while it is rare, vaccine administration errors are known to occur and have the potential to increase after a new vaccine is introduced and reiterated, they have reached out to administrators to educate them.
FULL STATEMENT FROM THE CDC:
While rare, vaccine administration errors are known to occur and may increase after a new vaccine or product is introduced. To prevent mix-ups, CDC has reached out to clinicians to educate them about the proper administration of the new RSV vaccines and to alert them that misadministrations, while uncommon, have occurred. Education and additional vigilance will reduce the likelihood of errors.
CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
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