Baltimore 4-year-old Accidently Given COVID Vaccine Instead of Flu Shot

A 4-year-old was recently accidentally administered a COVID-19 vaccine when she was brought in to get a flu shot. According to one news article, the Maryland pharmacy error occurred when the 4-year-old girl went with her parents to a Walgreens pharmacy in Baltimore, Maryland. She was supposed to receive a flu shot but the pharmacist accidentally injected her with a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is not currently authorized for children younger than 12 years old and the vaccine for 5 to 11 year-olds, which is not yet authorized, only has about a third of the dosage given to the 4-year-old.

The girl’s parents did not know what to do and a nurse’s hotline and Poison Control “yielded few answers.” Researchers are still looking into the effects of COVID-19 vaccines on young children and toddlers, including at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. A representative from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated that vaccination providers are supposed to report vaccine administration errors to The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, managed by the federal government.

Although no adverse effects were reported in this case, the case illustrates that other, possibly more serious, errors can occur. Medical errors and vaccine errors occur all too frequently. In the event of a Maryland pharmacy error, victims may be able to recover financial compensation for their injuries, which may include medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses, as well as emotional suffering. In a lawsuit against the parties responsible for the error, a victim would have to show that the defendant(s) owed a duty of care to the victim, the defendant(s) failed to meet the standard of care required in that situation by acting or failing to act in some way, the defendant(s)’s wrongful act caused the victim’s injury, and the victim suffered damages as a result.

What Should You Do if You Get the Wrong Medication from the Pharmacy?

Anyone who has suffered from a Maryland pharmacy error should meet with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. If a claim can be filed, it has to be filed within a certain amount of time. Generally, injury claims based on negligence must be filed within three years of the date of the injury. In addition, evidence (and individuals’ memories of the event) may disappear over time. Vaccine error cases and medical error cases generally often require the assistance of an expert who can explain the effect of the error and the link between the victim’s injuries.

Consult with a Maryland Pharmacy Error Attorney

A Maryland pharmacy error victim may be suffering from the physical, mental, and financial effects of the error. A Maryland pharmacy error attorney can help to address the serious effects of an error by advising clients concerning a personal injury lawsuit. The team of professionals at Lebowitz & Mzhen personal injury lawyers can assist injured victims in the Baltimore, Maryland region and the surrounding areas who are recovering from their injuries by guiding them through the legal process. To set up a free, initial consultation, call 1-800-654-1949 or contact them via their online form.

 

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