Health network apologises after COVID-19 vaccine given without parental consent
A Murray Bridge girl's stepmother allegedly had her vaccinated without her parents' permission.
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Health authorities have apologised after a Murray Bridge girl was given a COVID-19 vaccine without her mother’s consent.
The girl was taken to the Murray Bridge vaccination clinic by her stepmother, who allegedly claimed to be her legal guardian and omitted two key details from a consent form.
The eight-year-old girl’s parents, now separated, had agreed not to have their daughter vaccinated just yet, the mother told Murray Bridge News.
However, the stepmother did not hold the same view.
The stepmother took the girl to the clinic earlier this month, filled in a consent form and asked a nurse to administer a dose of vaccine, which the nurse did.
However, two pieces of information – a Medicare number and her relationship to the girl – were later found to be missing from the form she filled in, according to a letter from a Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network executive, shown to Murray Bridge News.
The error was picked up after the mother filed a complaint with the LHN the following week.
The daughter had no adverse reaction to the Pfizer vaccine.
But her mother said the whole episode had been distressing for the family.
“I just pray it doesn’t happen again,” she said.
“I don’t want people to go through what I’ve gone through.
“I want medical practitioners to make sure they’re doing their jobs.
“I could have been any Jo Bloggs off the street, bringing anyone in.”
In the letter, the LHN executive offered a sincere apology.
“The registered nurse has received further education and all of our clinic staff have received a reminder to check that consent forms are fully completed prior to administering a vaccination,” he said.
He said SA Health policy required staff to ask whether an adult had legal authority to consent on behalf of a child, and that such consent needed to be clearly documented.
Murray Bridge News has sought comment from SA Health and the office of state Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade.
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