I took my son to get his 15 month shots and the nurse accidently gave him another child's 12 month shots. So he received the 12 month shots twice within 3 months. Has this happened to anyone else??? And can anyone tell me a good place to research the effects of vaccines?? Thanks!
Hi Mama,
I'm sorry I cannot help you with your problem, but I wanted to ask you to call your state about this. This is not a small mistake, this could have been very serious!!!!
I hope your baby is fine.
R. Magby
Do you know exactly WHAT shots your son was given at both times? If not, you need to find out. HepB, HIB, PCV, IPV, MMR, Varicella, and HepA are all usually given in a range - somewhere between 6 and 18 months. Perhaps your son did not receive all of these at 12 months. If not, what did he recieve? And then what was in the other childs vaccine? You won't know and be fully informed until you find out.
I would definitely report this nurse and the clinic to the health department. The bottom line is you would not want this to happen to someone else and unless it is reported, it could happen again.
The good news is that your child will most likely be just fine. Unless your child has had an adverse reaction to an ingredient in the vaccine, more than likely nothing will happen. A vaccine works by causing your immune system to respond to a weak/dead version of the pathogen so that the response to a second exposure happens rapidly due to the presence of memory b-cells (the first reaction happens slowly). A second exposure to a weak/dead pathogen just means that your child's immune system should respond more rapidly.
I would absolutely report this nurse. This is completely unacceptable! If she can mix up vaccines, what other mistakes has she made?
I did some research and found this website: http://www.thenhf.com/article.php?id=1806
I did delayed/spaced vaccinations so I can't speak directly on having double vaccinations so closely together. I do know though that after several years the vaccine "wears off" (for lack of a better term) that's why we give the kids boosters after several years.
I would call around to other pediatricians and ask them about it. Just explain your situation and let them know that you're concerned for your child and wonder what, if any, things you should be worried about.
*hugs* I hope your little one is ok! Even getting the shots he was supposed to get he'd be cranky and such. I hope you can find the answers that ease your mind.
My children are adopted from China, and when doctors can't decipher their incomplete shot records, they do them ALL over again in the US. If they allow this to happen, then it seems to me that extra doses of these childhood vaccinations may not be harmful. Did you already talk to the doctor about what happened? If not, the doctor does need to know; he or she is probably required to report it to someone. If it were not routine vaccinations, that kind of mistake can have serious consequences.
Two of the most reliable sources for vaccine information are
www.thinktwice.com and
www.nvic.org
In matters pertaining specifically to Texas vaccine issues;
www.vaccineinfo.org
I don't just love the idea of giving more than one vaccine to a child but every few months. I'm sure you are worried but I would bet your child will be okay. Especially if he seems to be a pretty healthy child.
