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February 26, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"North Queensland Vaccinations Defective"

Australian Associated Press (AAP) (aap.com.au) ; Devai, Vera

In Australia, Queensland Health Minister Wendy Edmond announced this week that as many as 700 doses of vaccine may have been rendered ineffective prior to administration to patients last year at the Ingham Hospital in north Queensland.  According to Edmond, problems were identified in the storage procedure for the vaccines.  It was discovered that Ingham had stored the various types of vaccines at below zero degrees, when most should be stored at temperatures between two and eight degrees Celsius. Edmond does not believe the vaccines given were unsafe, but she said they are likely ineffective.

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