Question

Johnny Parker (DOB 06/15/10) saw Jean Burke, NP, for a well-child visit. Johnny is off schedule with his hepatitis B vaccine series, and today he is to get his last hepatitis B booster. You (a medical assistant) prepare the medication and give the injection in his right deltoid muscle. Later in the day, you realize that hepatitis B has been out of stock for 1 week. You must have given a hepatitis A booster to Johnny. You realize that you failed to read the label three times during the preparation of the medication. You report the mistake to Jean Burke, NP, and your supervisor. Your supervisor calls Lisa Parker, Johnny's mother. They will come back next week for the hepatitis B vaccine. You need to complete the incident report.

A.Equipment and Supplies

B.Incident report form

C.Black pen

Answer 1

A medical assistant mistakenly administered the Hepatitis A vaccine instead of the Hepatitis B vaccine, signifying the necessity for strict adherence to vaccine administration protocols. This incident report underscores the importance of the Hepatitis B vaccine, especially for healthcare workers and infants, as it plays a critical role in preventing serious health complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario presented is an incident in a healthcare setting where a medical assistant administered the Hepatitis A vaccine instead of the Hepatitis B vaccine to a child named Johnny. This mistake highlights the importance of vaccine management and the need for rigorous protocols in administering vaccines. In health-care settings, hepatitis B was once a significant hazard for workers but with the recommendation of the CDC for hepatitis B vaccination, the rates of infection have declined. Although the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is mostly associated with exposure to infectious blood or body fluids, healthcare workers remain at risk. Hepatitis B can lead to serious health complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, particularly if contracted during infancy, making vaccination a critical preventive measure.

The hepatitis B vaccine is an essential part of the standard vaccination schedule and is produced using recombinant DNA technology. Healthcare agencies are mandated to offer this vaccine to all workers with potential occupational exposure. Following protocol, such as reading the medication label three times during preparation, is crucial to prevent such incidents. When mistakes occur, it is necessary to report them immediately and follow up with the correct medical intervention, as well as complete an incident report to prevent future occurrences.