A Vaccine administration oops

[Nurse Katherine]

Question 1: I was administering shots today with a colleage. She handed me the needles and I gave them and felt a lump after one of them. Was the wrong needle used. I could I have given the subq at the wrong angle. Question 2 if a vaccine is to be IM and its given subq what happens

[tewdles, RN]

They may have a more serious local reaction and they may well not properly respond to the vaccine and therefore not create an adequate immune response.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Please look up the normal responses to vaccine administration. It is not uncommon for a localized lump to form.

I can't tell you if the wrong needle was used. Did you look at the needle after you administered? Ask your colleague what size needle she put on? That seems like the obvious thug to do if it suspected the wrong needle might have been used.

Absorption of medication is different in the subcutaneous tissue and the vaccine may not be properly absorbed- leading to an ineffective immunity.