Women getting the wrong vaccine as a second vaccination: “Wrong but no medical risk” | Instagram news VTM

Priscilla van Boven went to the vaccination center in Tellen for the second time on Wednesday to be photographed. When, after vaccination, it turned out that she had received AstraZeneca instead of Pfizer, there was a moment of panic. “The nurse called the doctor right away,” says Priscilla van Boven. “He said it probably couldn’t hurt. But no one could or would give me one hundred percent certainty. In the meantime, I got another call to keep getting my second Pfizer vaccine. Although I’m not entirely comfortable with that either, because I have an immune disorder. And the specialists at UZ Gent are not entirely in favor of getting a third dose.” Priscilla finds it particularly annoying that little or no information can be provided. The error occurred, but what if there were medical consequences? What will happen next? I still hope to get the necessary information. I also wonder if there are still people in Belgium who have experienced this.”

Dirk Ramakers, head of the vaccinations team, wants to reassure Priscilla van Boven. “It’s a mistake and in principle it shouldn’t have happened, of course,” Ramakers says. But it certainly can’t hurt. The one thing we can’t guarantee is that it will have the same level of protection that you would have after using Pfizer twice. That’s why it’s definitely not bad that she’s still getting her second Pfizer shot. But again, there is no security issue. It might have a slightly higher chance of side effects, but not more than that. Her vaccination passport will again contain all three vaccinations. Digital technology may be an issue, but we will correct that if it is not settled.”

The question remains, of course, how it happened that Priscilla received the wrong vaccine. “It really went wrong,” says Dr. Stefan Toels of Maidenkimben Primary Care. It is about two adjacent lines with the same waiting room. There are usually several quality checks, but it looks like something has gone wrong. From a medical point of view, there is no risk and we immediately did our best to get it from a second Pfizer as quickly as possible.”