And the Answer Is...

Answer: Influenza

The influenza virus vaccine is available in many formulations that differ based on a patient’s age, and some formulations are indicated for both children and adults within certain age ranges. Is it any wonder the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) National Vaccine Errors Reporting Program (VERP) recently tabbed influenza vaccines as the most common type of vaccine implicated in age-related errors? Vaccine vials and manufacturer-filled syringes often look similar, they may have similar sounding names, and the font on labels is small, which adds to the confusion if the products are not well organized, according to Donna Weaver, a nurse educator at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She said health-system pharmacists could educate frontline staff about various types of vaccines and help develop standing orders of administration to help ensure the right vaccine is administered to the right patient. Whether pharmacists administer vaccines themselves or prepare them for use by others in a health system, the vaccines should be stored properly and clearly labeled, said Ms. Weaver. She suggested pharmacists store each vaccine type in separate containers within a storage unit and keep vaccines with similar packaging or formulations for both pediatric and adult patients on different shelves to minimize the risk of administration errors. Using color-coded labels to identify vaccine type, age indications, dosage, route, and unique characteristics also promotes the appropriate use of vaccines, noted Ms. Weaver. Hospitals can also attempt to purchase age-specific formulations of the same vaccine from different manufacturers to differentiate the products, according to ISMP.

—Dan Cook

Reference:

Institute for Safe Medication Practices. ISMP National Vaccine Errors Reporting Program: One in three vaccine errors associated with age-related factors. www.ismp.org. Published July 28, 2016.