The Dali Branch of Jen-Ai Hospital in Taichung has been suspended from administering COVID-19 vaccines for giving smaller than required dosages of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine to over 40 patients undergoing dialysis.

On Sept. 29, 44 dialysis patients received their second shot of the AZ vaccine at the hospital’s dialysis unit, but it was later found that there was a problem with the dosages, Wang Jui-chin (???), the hospital’s vice superintendent, said at a press conference Monday.

The 44 dialysis patients should have been given the recommended 0.5 milliliter dosage of the vaccine, but they only actually got a 0.1 ml dosage, according to Wang.

The hospital immediately notified the 44 patients to return to get an extra jab on Oct. 1 to ensure they received an adequate amount of the vaccine.

Forty of the 44 agreed to receive the extra jabs and did not have any symptoms of an adverse reaction, according to Wang.

The hospital will monitor the health of the four who were unwilling to get a third shot, Wang said.

He offered a public apology for the hospital’s negligence, and said the hospital has formed a special task force to examine the mistakes.

Meanwhile, the city’s Department of Health said it has ordered the hospital to stop administering COVID-19 vaccines as punishment and has dispatched personnel to investigate the matter.

The hospital was subject to a potential fine ranging from NT$50,000 (US$1,794) to NT$250,000 for violating the Medical Care Act pending the investigation into the incident, according to the Health Department.

The incident came after En Chu Kong Hospital in New Taipei was ordered to stop administering COVID-19 vaccines for one week after its staff mistakenly administered undiluted Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT) vaccine doses to 25 people on Sept. 27.

New Taipei’s Health Department issued a report Sunday on its findings. Determining that the hospital did not follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and did not meet its supervisory responsibility, the agency decided to fine the hospital NT$250,000.

En Chu Kong Hospital has submitted an application to resume administering COVID-19 vaccines, which is being reviewed by the Health Department, New Taipei Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan (???) said.

According to the Health Department, only one patient given the undiluted BNT vaccine at En Chu Kong Hospital was still under observation in the hospital as of Monday, while the others are in good health.

The hospital will continue monitoring the 25 individuals’ health for at least 28 days, the agency said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel