Hospital apologizes after Toronto teen receives COVID-19 vaccine not yet approved for children
A 15-year-old boy looking to get his second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine says he was shocked to find out he had been given the wrong shot after the vaccination had already taken place.
Rakin Choudhury went to the vaccination site at Warden Hilltop Community Centre, which is operated by Michael Garron Hospital in the city’s east end, with his father Rejoan and two siblings on Tuesday.
Because of his age, Choudhury was expecting to receive a shot of Pfizer, as it is the only COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada for children between the ages of 12 and 17.
“When we were first registering for the vaccine, we told the person with the iPad at least four or five times that we were getting Pfizer,” Choudhury said, speaking to CTV News Toronto.
When the teen got written confirmation of his vaccination, Choudhury said he noticed he had received a shot of Moderna instead.
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, Michael Garron said it has been in touch with Choudhury’s family and that it had apologized for the error.
“The patient is stable and the incident is being reviewed with the team to ensure processes are in place to prevent this error from occurring in the future,” said Wolf Klassen, Vice President of Program Support at Michael Garron Hospital.
Choudhury’s father explained that while the incident is unsettling, he hopes sharing the story will prevent similar errors from taking place.
“Before this becomes more widespread, we need to stop it,” Rejoan said.
Choudhury said he experienced some nausea following the vaccination, but is feeling OK now.
Due to a delivery delay earlier this month, clinics across the city have been reserving Pfizer doses for children between the ages of 12 and 17 while adults receive doses of Moderna.
CTV News Toronto has reached out to the Ontario Ministry of Health to see if any other children have received the incorrect vaccine.
Choudhury’s two siblings, who are 16 and 12 years old both received a correct Pfizer shot at the same COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
On June 7, Moderna announced it had filed for Health Canada authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine to be used in adolescents. At that time, the pharmaceutical company said its shot had a 93 per cent efficacy two weeks after the first dose in adolescents who tested negative for ever having COVID-19.
The vaccine was “generally well tolerated” and there were no significant safety concerns, according to Moderna.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.