title: Management of school leavers given a diphtheria and tetanus vaccine intended for children instead of the intended low dose preparation.
abstract: In November 1995, 102 school leavers in two North Staffordshire schools were given high dose diphtheria and tetanus vaccine (intended for primary immunisation of children) rather than a preparation with a low dose of diphtheria vaccine intended for adults and adolescents. We describe the management of the incident and the action taken to minimise the risk of such an error being made again. Pupils who had received the high dose vaccine and a control group were surveyed with a self-administered questionnaire. Thirteen children out of 67 given the higher dose diphtheria vaccine consulted their general practitioner and the same number had time off school, compared with none of 25 from a control school. This excess morbidity was probably attributable to the higher dose of diphtheria vaccine.
authors.affiliation: North Staffordshire Health Authority, Fenton, Stoke on Trent.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Banks
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D022422:Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccine; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors; D009017:Morbidity; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D022422:Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccine; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D017778:Vaccines, Combined