Two adults given undiluted COVID-19 vaccine at Hougang clinic, one discharged after hospitalisation: MOH

SINGAPORE: Two adults were each given a full vial of the undiluted Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Hougang, with one needing hospitalisation after experiencing headache and increased heart rate, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday (Sep 20).

Responding to CNA’s queries, the ministry said that it was alerted to the incident on Monday, which took place at a clinic under the ProHealth Medical Group on Sep 15.

“One was hospitalised after experiencing headache and increased heart rate and has since been discharged. The other patient did not report any adverse reaction,” said MOH.

MOH said that it takes a serious view of this incident and is carrying out a thorough investigation.

“The clinic and doctor who administered the vaccine have been suspended from the National Vaccination Programme until further notice,” the ministry added.

After dilution, vials of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine contain six doses of 0.3ml of vaccine, according to Singapore's Health Sciences Authority.

Speaking to Mediacorp's Channel 8 News, Mr Lim Tau Chiew, 57, said he had experienced headache and increased heart rate.

"I felt the side of my body cramping up, even to the point I felt my pulse quickening and my heart beat was increasing," said Mr Lim.

"I called my daughter for help and we waited for the ambulance to send me to the hospital."

According to Channel 8 News, the doctor involved is a locum and comes in twice a month. She has been working at the clinic for around two years.

CNA has contacted the clinic for more information.

In a separate incident last year, MOH said it was conducting a "thorough investigation" after a 103-year-old woman was erroneously given a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

The woman was admitted to Changi General Hospital for pneumonia and hyponatremia, and was subsequently also diagnosed to have suffered a stroke. She died the following month.

Last year, an employee at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) was wrongly administered the equivalent of five doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine due to a human error.

Senior doctors were alerted immediately and the staff was assessed and found to be well, with no adverse reaction or side effects, SNEC had said.