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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Tung Wah Hospital (TWH) made the following announcement today (December 18):
On December 4, a staff member of the TWH General Outpatient Clinic in a routine inspection found that the temperature shown at the external display of a refrigerator for vaccines storage was different from that as recorded by the temperature-logger inside the refrigerator.
The hospital thus requested the equipment supplier to conduct a thorough check on December 5. The equipment supplier confirmed the variance following their inspection and said it would investigate the case with the manufacturer. The hospital immediately formed an ad hoc task force to follow up on the incident.
As the vaccine storage temperature slightly deviated from the designated range (beyond 2 to 8 degrees Celsius), and that might affect the validity of the vaccine concerned, the hospital has discarded around 30 doses of vaccines inside the refrigerator as a precautionary measure and stopped using the refrigerator in question. Also, similar refrigerators are being checked to ensure normal operation.
The refrigerator concerned has been used to store three types of vaccines - seasonal influenza vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine. The hospital has consulted vaccine suppliers on the validity of the affected vaccines. Validity could not be confirmed in 127 persons who had received vaccination within the period from May 22 to December 4, including 116 seasonal influenza vaccinations, seven pneumococcal vaccinations and four hepatitis B vaccinations.
Up to now, the hospital has not received any report of post-vaccination adverse effects.
The hospital has started to contact the concerned persons for follow up action in accordance with the advice of Centre for Health Protection and experts. A hotline on 2589 8218 has been set up for enquiry during office hours.
The case has been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up. The TWH would like to extend an apology to people affected in the incident. An investigation panel will be set up to examine and follow up on the matter.
Ends/Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:40
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