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Concerns over vaccination error Inquiry into vaccination concerns
(about 3 hours 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 illness by vaccines possibly being stored at wrong temperatures.
Letters are being sent to hundreds of patients and attempts are being made to contact those who may not be protected from infection. Health chiefs are offering 813 patients at the Northfield Health Centre booster vaccines in case they are not properly protected from infection.
NHS Grampian said a major exercise was under way to contact patients at the Northfield Health Centre. NHS Grampian apologised for the anxiety that would be caused to families as children may not be fully protected.
A helpline on 08000 282836 is available from 0800 GMT to 2200 GMT. A helpline on 08000 282 836 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 The problem was discovered in September when a health visitor took a vaccine out of a box and thought it was not the normal temperature.
It is understood that vaccines given to children as protection against disease and adults seeking protection from hepatitis, meningitis and pneumonia were affected. We anticipate children would be protected but not as well as we would like Dr Helen HowieNHS Grampian
Vaccines, such as MMR, given to children as protection against disease and adults seeking protection from hepatitis, meningitis and pneumonia were affected.
The concern surrounds vaccines given between October 2004 and October this year.
Records showed that 404 children and 409 adults are involved.
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. 'Some concern'
'Necessary protection' NHS Grampian public health consultant Dr Helen Howie said: "I would like to apologise for the anxieties this is going to cause to the families, and the inconvenience of having to come back.
"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. "It came to light that vaccines had been stored outwith the recommended range and this gave us some concern.
"These vaccines will not have caused any harm, but they may not provide the necessary long-term protection." "I would like to emphasise that the vaccines are not likely to have caused any harm. We anticipate children would be protected but not as well as we would like."
An inquiry has been launched and the fridge involved has been removed.
Fridges examined
All other pharmaceutical fridges in Grampian practices are also being examined.
Appointments for patients are now being organised.
Microbiologist Prof Hugh Pennington said vaccines had to be stored at the right temperature to ensure their effectiveness.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.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.""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.
Have you been affected by the error? Contact the BBC Scotland news website at newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk with your views.Have you been affected by the error? Contact the BBC Scotland news website at newsonlinescotland@bbc.co.uk with your views.