THE Eastern Health Board is to begin an investigation today into how 66 infants in Newbridge, Co Kildare, were given the wrong vaccine at school last week.
The children, aged five and six, were administered a three in one vaccine containing whooping cough, as well as diphtheria and tetanus, instead of a two in one vaccine containing only diphtheria and tetanus. Parents had not been asked to give their consent for the three in one injection.
A senior public health doctor, Dr Elizabeth Keane, director of public health with the Southern Health Board, and a senior administrator, Mr John Kincaid, community care manager with the Midland Health Board, have been appointed to carry out the inquiry.
Ms Maureen Browne, communications director with the Eastern Health Board, said yesterday that it hoped to receive the results very quickly. None of the children vaccinated had reported any adverse symptoms, and the three in one vaccine was not contra indicated in this age group.
"A mistake was made and we want to know how it was made, and review current protocols to ensure that it never occurs again," Ms Browne said. The 24 hour telephone help line, set up last Thursday by the board, will also be reviewed this morning.
Very few calls had been made since it was set up, she said, and a team of 10 public health doctors and nurses had made personal calls to all parents involved.
Some children had a temperature or a sore arm, which was routine for the two in one injection also, she said. The only children contra indicated for the vaccine were those with severe brain damage, those who sustained brain damage in the neo natal period, and children with a history of bad convulsions.
Parents were not notified in advance of the vaccination last Wednesday at St Conleth's Primary School, Ms Browne confirmed. All parents had signed the two in one consent form, but notification of the date was normally given to the school as it would be impractical to contact every parent individually.
St Conleth's parents' association is seeking a meeting with Eastern Health Board officials this week. Fianna Fail's deputy health spokesman, Dr Tom Moffatt, said his party would be raising the incident in the Dail.