It emerged yesterday that two aged care residents in Brisbane were given an incorrect dose of the Pfizer vaccine — possibly four times that recommended.

The GP involved is expected to be reported to AHPRA and they have already been stood down from their role with Healthcare Australia, the organisation contracted by the Federal Government to administer the vaccines. 

Writing in a personal capacity, Associate Professor Nigel Crawford, a member of ATAGI, explains that similar errors have occurred in other countries and that despite yesterday’s media storm, patient harm from so-called ‘multi-dose vial error’ remains unlikely.

The two residents – an 88-year-old man and 94-year-old woman – received their vaccinations as part of the first phase of Australia’s vaccine rollout.