5-year-old accidentally got double dose of COVID-19 vaccine, Morrisville mom says
A Morrisville mother told WRAL News her 5-year-old received an accidental double-dose of Moderna's new COVID-19 vaccine.
This comes as the Food and Drug Administration alerted parents and health providers that children under the age of 11 may receive the incorrect dose of Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine -- but said the dosage is not believed to be dangerous.
The FDA said health providers may be confused over the dosage of the vaccine, which is available to children as young as 6 months of age.
According to the FDA, a single vial of Moderna's current vaccine for children 6 months to 11 years old contains "notably more" than the 0.25 mL dosage children should receive.
Pediatricians and health providers should withdraw 0.25 mL from the vial and discard the rest, the FDA said.
The FDA said it has has not identified any safety risks associated with administration of the higher dose in children. No adverse or serious reactions have been connected to dosing errors.
In a statement sent to WRAL News, the FDA said it "actively working with Moderna to communicate with healthcare providers to ensure the correct dosage of vaccine is administered in individuals 6 months through 11 years of age."
Roberts said her 5-year-old daughter received the vaccine on Oct. 18. Later, she got a call from her pediatrician's office.
"They called and said, we just want to let you know that we made a mistake while giving your daughter the vaccine. We gave her a double dose instead of a single dose," Roberts said.
Roberts said her daughter had a fever of 102.5 degrees for about 12 hours after she got her shot.
"She felt really bad and then her symptoms went away," Roberts said.
Roberts encourages other parents to ask their children's vaccine provider to double check their dosage.
"I understand human error, but this is not like you ordered too many tablecloths or something," she said. "You injected something into my child that you can’t get out now.
Healthcare providers, parents and caregivers who have questions may contact FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at ocod@fda.hhs.gov.
