Violation of Infectious Disease Prevention Act...Fine Imposed
Incheon Namdong-gu Health Center Terminates Consignment Contract
215 Vaccination Appointments Transferred to Other Hospitals
Self-Inspection Checklist Created for Frequent Management Policy
[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] A hospital in Incheon that administered about half the standard dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine to recipients is expected to face a fine. Violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act can result in fines of up to 1 million KRW.
On the 19th, Namdong-gu Public Health Center in Incheon announced that it plans to impose a fine on a hospital in Namdong-gu for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.
The hospital administered only about half the standard dose (0.25?0.3 ml) of the AstraZeneca vaccine to around 40 recipients, while reporting to health authorities that the full dose (0.5 ml) was used. It is known that the hospital explained to recipients that receiving about half the vaccine dose would result in fewer adverse reactions.
The hospital claimed that the electronic system only allowed input of the standard 0.5 ml dose and did not permit entry of other dosages, so the actual administered amount could not be reflected. However, the health center rejected this claim, noting that there is a way to record special notes if there are any unusual circumstances.
After receiving a confirmation letter from the hospital admitting to "inevitably reporting false information related to vaccine administration," Namdong-gu Public Health Center collected the remaining vaccines and terminated the consignment contract. From April this year until recently, a total of 676 people, including staff, were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine at the hospital.
The health center arranged for the 215 remaining vaccine appointment holders who had not yet been vaccinated to use other hospitals. It also provided guidelines to prevent incorrect vaccinations to contracted hospitals in the district. Self-checklists covering vaccination methods, dosages, and injection sites by vaccine type will be created to regularly manage the contracted hospitals.
A Namdong-gu Public Health Center official stated, "The hospital involved in the controversy did not properly report the underdosing to health authorities," adding, "We will thoroughly manage contracted hospitals to prevent repeated cases of incorrect vaccination."
Meanwhile, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) advises that even if less than the recommended dose is administered, as long as it exceeds half the standard dose, a re-vaccination is not necessary, based on guidelines referencing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standards in the 'COVID-19 Vaccination Implementation Guidelines.'
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