Baby given overdose of TB vaccine

A HOSPITAL has launched an investigation after a newborn baby was given an overdose of a tuberculosis vaccine.

The boy, born on February 5, was injected with 0.5mg of the BCG vaccine – 10 times the usual 0.05mg dose, lawyers for his family said.

A statement from law firm Irwin Mitchell said the boy was being treated with help from the poisons agency and an expert in immunology at Sheffield Children's Hospital.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesman for Scunthorpe General Hospital said it had launched a "full investigation".

Speaking on behalf of the family, David Body, a medical law specialist at Irwin Mitchell, said it was a difficult time for the family of the baby, which was receiving treatment for TB, but they hoped the treatment would be successful. "However, this case raises important questions about basic systems in hospitals to ensure the safe administration of drugs."