Sought treatment for breathing difficulty; girl administered rabies vaccine

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A girl, who sought treatment at a government hospital for breathing difficulty, was administered a vaccine for rabies. The incident took place at the Sasthamkotta Taluk Hospital. According to sources, the 18-year-old girl was mistakenly given a rabies vaccine when she sought treatment at the OP section of the hospital.

The girl had been suffering from severe breathing issues and had arrived at the hospital with her mother. A doctor prescribed an injection for her condition. However, the nurse on duty accidentally administered the wrong injection.

At the same time, another patient who had been bitten by a stray dog had come to the hospital for treatment. The rabies vaccine that had been kept ready for that patient was mistakenly given to the girl instead. After realising the mistake, the nurse apologised. The girl’s relatives protested, following which hospital authorities held discussions regarding the incident.

Doctors said that only a test dose of the rabies vaccine was given and that it would not cause any serious health problems. Hospital officials also stated that an inquiry committee, including the doctors who were on duty, has been formed to investigate the incident. The girl was later given the correct injection for her breathing difficulty.