ASHBURN, Va. — A mother in Loudoun County said a CVS pharmacy in Ashburn gave her 11-year-old son the incorrect dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Gurpreet Gill and her son visited the location on Russell Branch Parkway on Monday so he could get his first COVID-19 shot. She received a voicemail from a district leader days later "in regards to important information about a vaccine recently received."
Gill said she called back to learn that her son received an incorrect dose after it was over-diluted by the pharmacy. Health experts say there are no known side effects in getting a lower dosage, but Gill and other parents express frustration.
"My biggest concern is that he got an ineffective dose," Gill said. "We want him to create the antibodies. We don't want him to have a risk there that he won't be able to create them with the dosage he got."
The Virginia Department of Health said it received a report about a vaccine administration issue at the pharmacy location and has referred that report to the appropriate authorities.
CVS Health confirmed that three patients received the vaccinations mixed with excess diluent, which reduced the efficacy. A CVS spokesperson said it is reporting this event to HHS’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and are taking steps to help prevent this from occurring again.
Gill was told to bring her son back to get vaccinated again, per CDC recommendations. She is holding off for now until advisement from her pediatrician.
"As parents, do some more research," Gill said. "There is a difference between the adult vaccine and the children vaccine and ask great questions when you get there. Just so you know what your kids are getting."
In a statement, Dr. David Goodfriend of the Loudoun County Health Department said, "on occasion an issue arises where a product was not correctly diluted or an incorrect dose was provided. When we hear about such an occurrence, we work with the pharmacy to ensure that the affected patient receives the correct information on what occurred and receives guidance on next steps. We are confident that any facility that provided an incorrect dose of which we are aware has provided notification to affected patients."
State and federal government recently stripped another pharmacy in Loudoun County of its ability to give COVID-19 vaccines. Health officials say Ted Pharmacy in Aldie gave incorrect doses to 112 children last Wednesday and Thursday after diluting adult vaccines.
Among the parents who brought their children to the pharmacy is Surya Lamech, who is taking advice from his pediatrician to just get the second dose after 21 days.
"It's a little worrying to not know exactly how protected they are," Lamech said. "Maybe we just need to be a little more aware and make sure what they're getting, but I hope it doesn't deter anyone from getting vaccinated."
The state Board of Pharmacy could not confirm or deny if an investigation is underway at Ted Pharmacy.
"Should an investigation reveal there is probable cause to believe a law or regulation was broken an Informal Conference or a Formal Hearing before the board may be held for consideration of possible disciplinary action," a BOP spokesperson said in a statement.
Examples of disciplinary action include issuance of a reprimand, advisory letter, monetary penalty, requirements to obtain additional continuing education, probation with terms and conditions, suspension and revocation of license.
The CDC has guidance online as to what patients should do if they are under-dosed. Their recommendation is to repeat the dose immediately if the individual received too little vaccine, either due to too little volume or incorrect dilution.
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