4-year-old accidentally given COVID vaccine instead of flu shot at Fitchburg CVS

FITCHBURG, Mass. — A 4-year-old was accidentally given the COVID-19 vaccine; an age group not yet okayed by the FDA. This happened at a Fitchburg CVS where his mom was expecting the flu shot.

‘I couldn’t believe that happened. I didn’t think it was real, I was concerned for Jack,” that boy’s mom, Meghan Cameron, said.

“He got a shot in his left arm and the pharmacy tech said instantly, ‘Oh my God, oh my God,’ and I said, ‘What?’ and she said, ‘I just gave him the COVID vaccine.’”

Meghan was furious but also frantic.

“I was concerned and still am concerned over how he’s going to do over the next hours,” she said.

She said CVS called Pfizer and they called the CDC. The CDC just said not to give Jack another shot until he is 5 years old. But Meghan is worried what effects the shot, approved only for kids 5 and older, would have on Jack, who just turned 4 in July.

The only person who eased her fears was Jack’s pediatrician who spoke with her.

>>>MORE: Booster shots: All MA residents 18+ now eligible for COVID-19 booster

“He did say it’s a very small dose and it’s safe,” she said. “He thinks that Jack will be fine just to monitor him.”

She said the CVS pharmacy people apologized profusely, then said this:

“The safety protocols on how they do things, they were going to change. And I said it was a little late for that.”

In the meantime, Meaghan anxiously waits and watches 4-year-old jack for any unusual side effects.

“Nobody really knows, so, still doesn’t make me feel great,” she said.

CVS sent Boston 25 News the following statement:

“We are investigating a vaccine administration error at our pharmacy on Rollstone Rd. in Fitchburg but cannot comment on a specific patient without signed authorization. In the event of such an incident, we report it to HHS’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and take steps to help prevent it from occurring again.”

Meghan said she’ll sign the statement tomorrow because it’s late and her alarm is set to go off every two hours to make sure her son is okay.

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