At a recent pop-up vaccination event in Orange County, select teens were administered an incorrect dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On January 6, the Orange County Health Department co-facilitated a pop-up vaccination clinic with StarMed at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough. At that event, officials said a nurse practitioner believed he was giving the accurate dosing to the patients and later realized he had given the pediatric dosing rather than the adult dosing.

In total, 126 people received their COVID-19 shot at the vaccination event last week. Of those patients, the Orange County Health Department reports less than 35 teens received the wrong dose.

Officials said those who received a pediatric dose and are aged 12 to 17 will not need to repeat their vaccination; however, if anyone 18 or older received a pediatric dose the correct dose should be repeated immediately.

Patients who received the wrong dosage should be contacted by StarMed by the end of the day on Wednesday, January 12.

Since local vaccination efforts got underway, the health department has used StarMed to facilitate 15 pop-up vaccination events in Orange County.

Public health officials released a statement to the community on Wednesday detailing the incident and the county’s future relations with StarMed.

“While we are very upset that some people were given the incorrect dose on January 6, that was the first time we are aware of this happening,” the release read. “We hope it was an isolated incident that happened to take place on a day in which new orders for boosters were given by the state.

“For our part, we have involved the state liaison in order to get clarification and support. We will hold StarMed accountable for their actions. We do not have any future pop-up events planned with StarMed at this time.”

The nurse practitioner in question has since been put on suspension until further training is provided. Officials said additional training will also be provided to staff.

 

Lead photo via AP/Steven Senne.

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