More women, babies given ineffective hepatitis B and Boostrix vaccines at Bankstown Hospital

Another 182 women and babies have received potentially ineffective hepatitis B and Boostrix vaccines from Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, an investigation has found.

Another 182 women and babies have received potentially ineffective hepatitis B and Boostrix vaccines from Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, an investigation has found.

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Another 182 women and babies have received potentially ineffective hepatitis B and Boostrix vaccines from Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, an investigation has found.

An internal investigation was launched this month after it was discovered more than 280 infants received hepatitis B vaccines from a fridge found to be too warm between November 29 and January 22.

But now the South Western Sydney Local Health District review has found there were also low temperature readings in the fridge on the post-natal ward between May 24, 2016 and July 26.

Another 182 women and babies have received potentially ineffective hepatitis B and Boostrix vaccines from Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, an investigation has found.

Approximately 91 women will need an additional Boostrix vaccination and another 91 babies may have received an ineffective hepatitis B vaccine.

Boostrix is a vaccine given to women in their third trimester to boost immunity against whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus.

The two fridge malfunctions were found to be caused by stock crowding the fridges’ in-built temperature sensor.

Most vaccines used in Australia are temperature sensitive that must be stored between 2C and 8C.

The fridge bungle also led to an audit of approximately 44 vaccine fridges across SWSLHD.

All fridges across the district were found to be compliant, except Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.