Fraser Health suspends New Westminster pharmacy from COVID-19 vaccine program after syringes reused
CBC
The Fraser Health Authority says it has stopped a pharmacy from administering COVID-19 vaccines after learning it reused syringes on patients.
"We were made aware of an incident involving an infection prevention and control lapse that occurred during COVID-19 immunizations where syringes [the plastic tube that holds the vaccine solution, not the needle] were reused at a pharmacy in one of our communities," said the health authority in a statement to CBC News.
Fraser Health did not name the pharmacy it had suspended or how many patients were given a COVID-19 vaccine with a reused syringe.
It said the pharmacy was part of a provincial pilot program which has residents use a provincial booking system to be vaccinated at the pharmacy.
Corinn Jockisch said she went for her second COVID-19 vaccine dose at the Ultracare Guardian Pharmacy in New Westminster on Aug. 25 and this week received a letter from Fraser Health, asking her to call a public health nurse.
She was told that the pharmacy had reused syringes and that she could be at risk for contracting illnesses such as Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and HIV as a result.
"I was just taken aback first and you go through shock of course because you are just not sure what that really means and how serious is it. I got upset. I was just really upset."
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