The recent rollout of the most popular Covid-19 vaccines for use in 5 to 11-year-old children may present a unique opportunity for Americans to successfully battle the Covid-19 pandemic. Allowing children to be vaccinated will most likely reduce the community spread of the virus and allow Americans to return to their lifestyles from before the pandemic. Although the vaccine contents are the same for adults and children, the dosage approved for children aged 5 to 11 years is smaller than the approved dosage for adults. A recently published local news report discusses how one Virginia pharmacy mistakenly gave children vaccine shots that were dosed for adults.
According to the news report, the pharmacy, located in Loudoun County, VA gave over 100 children doses of the vaccine that were meant for people 12 years of age and older. Although the pharmacy has admitted their mistake publicly, the news report mentions that some families whose kids received the improper dose of the vaccine were not notified of the mix-up. The report does not note any unexpected side effects or other injury to the children who received the wrong dose of the vaccine, however, the mistake happened only recently and the long-term effects are not yet known.
Consumers are expected to put their faith in licensed pharmacists to dispense medications as prescribed by a doctor. This extends to vaccinations and other duties besides simply filling prescriptions. Although pharmacists and other pharmacy employees are trusted to do their jobs correctly, mistakes such as the recent Covid-19 vaccine mix-up are quite common. Pharmacies that dispense the wrong medication or the wrong dose of medication could cause their patients serious harm or even death by their mistake. Pharmacies and their employees may be understaffed and overworked as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, but this should not excuse negligence on the job.
Are Pharmacies Liable for Medication Errors?
Yes, pharmacies have a duty to provide care that is acceptable to patients and consumers, and this includes a legal duty to correctly fill and distribute medications when a customer fills a prescription. A pharmacy that makes a prescription error that causes harm to a patient may be held liable for their mistake in civil court through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Medication errors and pharmacy mistakes can cause grief and heartbreak to families in the mid-Atlantic, and a qualified attorney who specializes in medical malpractice and pharmacy error claims can help victims hold pharmacies accountable for their mistakes.
Are You Seeking Recourse for a Pharmacy Error?
If you or someone you love has recently suffered an injury or died as a result of a Maryland, Virginia, or DC medication error or pharmacy mistake, the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen may be able to help you seek damages for your loss. Our qualified medical malpractice and pharmacy mistake lawyers know how to hold responsible parties accountable for their mistakes, and we have recovered more than $65 million on behalf of our clients. If you have questions about a possible case, contact us at 800-654-1949 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our attorneys today.