January 01, 2017
Vaccine Errors and How to Prevent Them
Effective management and control of vaccinations in an office based practice is essential. Recent reports of mis-administration of various vaccines has prompted us to ask you to review your vaccine administration protocol and ensure the understanding of the clinical staff administering these vaccines.
- Make sure the refrigeration equipment is compatible with the storage guidelines noted in the vaccine package inserts
- Monitor and record refrigerator and freezer temperatures twice daily
- Develop and maintain an emergency vaccine retrieval and storage plan in the event of equipment malfunction and power outages
- Open only one vial of a vaccine at a time
- Rotate your stock and check expiration dates weekly and before any administrations
- Consider manufacturer supplied pre-filled syringes in situations of heavy use of a single vaccine
- Ensure your staff is adequately trained on administering vaccines to include vaccine names, trade or generic, proper dosing, pediatric vs. adult, and route of administration
- All vaccine vials should be checked three (3) times before dosing and administration
- Pay close attention when scheduling vaccines and consult the CDC to ensure your scheduling protocols are current. Some State immunization schedules follow a stricter schedule and should be consulted as well.
CDC Vaccine Age Interval Table
All vaccine providers are required by the National Vaccine Childhood Injury Act (NCVIA) to give every patient child or adult, or their legal guardian, a copy of the Vaccination Information Sheet (VIS) prior to administration.
Make sure your VISs are the most current version