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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Concerns over vaccination error | Concerns over vaccination error |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Patients at an Aberdeen GP practice may have been exposed to the risk of serious illness after vaccines were stored at the wrong temperature. | Patients at an Aberdeen GP practice may have been exposed to the risk of serious illness after vaccines were stored at the wrong temperature. |
| Letters are being sent to hundreds of patients and attempts are being made to contact those who may not be protected from infection. | Letters are being sent to hundreds of patients and attempts are being made to contact those who may not be protected from infection. |
| NHS Grampian said a major exercise was under way to contact patients at the Northfield Health Centre. | NHS Grampian said a major exercise was under way to contact patients at the Northfield Health Centre. |
| A helpline on 08000 282836 is available from 0800 GMT to 2200 GMT. | A helpline on 08000 282836 is available from 0800 GMT to 2200 GMT. |
| The easiest thing to do is to give the patients who have received the dud vaccine another shot Prof Hugh PenningtonMicrobiologist | |
| It is understood that vaccines given to children as protection against disease and adults seeking protection from hepatitis, meningitis and pneumonia were affected. | It is understood that vaccines given to children as protection against disease and adults seeking protection from hepatitis, meningitis and pneumonia were affected. |
| NHS Grampian said patients would not have been harmed in any way as a result of the possible error but they may not have been given sufficient protection from disease or infection. | NHS Grampian said patients would not have been harmed in any way as a result of the possible error but they may not have been given sufficient protection from disease or infection. |
| A spokesperson said: "Vaccines may have been stored at temperatures outside the recommended range. | A spokesperson said: "Vaccines may have been stored at temperatures outside the recommended range. |
| 'Necessary protection' | |
| "As a precaution, several hundred patients of Northfield practice will receive letters today to explain what has happened and to advise them that they may need a booster vaccination. | "As a precaution, several hundred patients of Northfield practice will receive letters today to explain what has happened and to advise them that they may need a booster vaccination. |
| "These vaccines will not have caused any harm, but they may not provide the necessary long-term protection." | "These vaccines will not have caused any harm, but they may not provide the necessary long-term protection." |
| Microbiologist Prof Hugh Pennington said vaccines had to be stored at the right temperature to ensure their effectiveness. | |
| He said: "If this is not done it means its shelf life on the bottle is wrong and the vaccine won't be as good. It won't necessarily mean it is useless, but there is no way of telling. | |
| "The easiest thing to do is to give the patients who have received the dud vaccine another shot." | |
| Prof Pennington said the situation should not have happened as correct temperatures are clearly labelled on vaccine bottles. | |
| Health officials will be releasing more details later in the day. | Health officials will be releasing more details later in the day. |
| Have you been affected by the error? Contact the BBC Scotland news website at newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk with your views. |