WEST ALLIS, Wis., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- More than 1,000 patients, hospital staff and doctors who got flu shots at a hospital in West Allis, Wis., are being revaccinated because of spoiled vaccine.
About 300 patients and 725 hospital staff were given shots with vaccine that had warmed in a malfunctioning pharmacy refrigerator. The pharmacy threw out another 850 doses of flu vaccine because it might have lost its effectiveness.
Flu vaccine must be stored at between 36 degrees and 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
People who received vaccines for pneumonia, measles, mumps and rabies also will be revaccinated, Scott Thompson, vice president of medical operations at Aurora Health Care told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Thompson said even if the improperly refrigerated vaccine was still effective that receiving a second flu shot would not cause any harm.
Milwaukee health department officials said it was unfortunate to lose flu vaccine in a year when it is in short supply.
