Nearly 60 of the doses in question were administered before hospital officials determined the medication had been left unrefrigerated long enough to render the vaccine ineffective. Those who received the ineffective doses have been notified and will need to be re-vaccinated. The episode means that immunization will be delayed for 570 people who should by now have received their first shot of the two-dose vaccine. Reluctance to take the vaccine has even been expressed by some healthcare workers who are among those designated as first in line to receive them. When initially questioned after the misplaced vials were discovered on Dec 26, the pharmacist said it was an inadvertent error, but during further review of the matter admitted on Wednesday to intentionally removing the vaccine from refrigeration, hospital officials said.

Source: bd News24 January 01, 2021 01:41 UTC