GHS: Hundreds of children need to be immunized again because they may not have received full doses | New

GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) – The Greenville health system announced Thursday that Pediatric Associates-Easley and Pediatric Associates-Powdersville would offer free revaccination to hundreds of children who may not have received the all doses of certain vaccinations administered during pediatric visits. .

GHS said the affected families had been notified this week.

"GHS estimates that very few children have received less than optimal dosing, but even a child is too much," said GHS spokeswoman Sandy Dees Thursday morning. "By extreme caution, the GHS offered free vaccinations to all potentially affected children in both locations."

Dees said that about 1,800 children, or about 14% of patients at both sites, would require a new vaccination.

Dr. Robin LaCroix, medical director of the Greenville Children's Hospital Health System, said that an internal audit had revealed the problem and that the member of the team that had provided the vaccines in question was no longer part of this practice.

"We are committed to taking any additional steps necessary to ensure that children who may have been potentially under-immunized receive the correct dosage of vaccination as quickly as possible," LaCroix said in a press release. She said the new immunization was a safe procedure and the CDC recommended repeated immunizations in situations where immunization could not be confirmed.

"We want families to know that the health and safety of their children is our number one priority," LaCroix said in a statement. "We apologize for any concerns we have raised and for the inconvenience of re-immunizing our children.We will work hard to ensure that all potentially affected children receive a complete and appropriate immunization in the most convenient way. for their family. "

Pediatric Associates' offices in Easley and Powdersville will offer free vaccination during regular business hours as well as at special clinics after regular working hours and weekends. Dees said the affected families had been notified by mail and asked to call 864-855-0001 to schedule immunizations again or ask questions.

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