New York City’s Health Department is investigating how two schoolchildren got swine flu vaccinations without their parents’ consent.
The Health Department says neither child suffered ill effects, but it is taking measures to prevent future mistakes.
In Brooklyn, Naomi Troy says her daughter, Nikiyah Torres-Pierre, was taken to a hospital with a possible allergic reaction after getting the shot.
Troy told the Daily News she had not consented because she’d been waiting for advice from Nikiyah’s doctor. The 6-year-old has epilepsy.
A teacher apparently sent the wrong girl to the Health Department nurse, who didn’t double-check the name.
The department says the vaccine is safe for children with epilepsy.
The other incident occurred on Staten Island; the details were not known.
Meanwhile, Gov. David Paterson declared a state of emergency on Thursday, saying a recent rise in swine flu cases has created a “disaster” and that certain provisions of state law needed to be set aside to get people vaccinated as quickly as possible.
The executive order means that far more health care professionals — including dentists, dental hygienists, podiatrists, pharmacists, midwives and physicians assistants — will be permitted to administer swine flu and seasonal flu vaccines with only brief training.
The declaration will help avoid overwhelming hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities with swine flu cases, according to Paterson’s order.
It also allows health centers in schools, which have been particularly hard hit, to vaccinate children and adults.
(Source: CBS2 HD)
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One Response
I can not understand how this happened in school. Every injection or blood test is preceded by the standard questions verifying name and date of birth. Even if nothing happened the school nurse should lose her job. The next mistake might be a deadly one.