DTap question and saying hi

Specialties Pediatric

Updated:   Published

Hi Everyone!

I don't know if you remember me from last year but I had many problems with my pregnancy and found out I was group strep + and had to have allergy testing. Well, here we are and my baby girl is 10 months on the 5th. This first year has been hell on earth. I have had an extrmemly hard time with her from colic to blood clots to severe croup. It seems as if I haven't had much time to enjoy her but more time to spend thinking about medical issues.

I also wanted to say hi and say thanks for giving me all of the support during my last months pf pregnancy. Unfortunately, I will not be able to have anymore children but maybe I can adopt but after having such a challenging daughter, I don't know if I could do it again. WINK WINK.

Anyways, I am in a bit of a panic right now. To make a long story short, my daughter was given her 4th dtap today by accident and today has been nothing but phone calls to the doctor, etc. My famiyl doctor feels badly and I am acutally going in to speak with her on Thursday. She got her dtap 4.5 months early and it has only been almost 3 months since her last dtap. In your experience shoudl I be concerned or do anything? I know nothing can be done but I feel so helpless. I called the CDC and they said the CDC won't count this one and I should give her another one btw. 15-18 months and then one after 4 years old but I am only giving 1 more and that is after 4 years old. I didn't want vaccines in the 1st place but husband did so we compromised and put her on a modified schedule.

Thanks for listening!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family.

She should be fine. I've seen it happen before without incident. Hopefully the dr will be able to give you more insight with this problem. According to the CDC catchup schedule, 4 weeks is the interval between the first 3 shots, so hopefully adverse effects won't be an issue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Southernlpn,In what capacity have you seen it done and with what shots, etc? I am meeting tomorrow with the doctor and I am so angry that I don't know what to say. Should I have her document that it was an accident, etc?

Thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I do remember you, and am glad that you "checked back in", even though it is not under the best of circumstances! I'm sorry to hear of your rough start, and hope that everything will settle down for you soon!

I had a similar problem with my youngest. We moved halfway across the country when she was 15 months old. My previous pediatrician had warned me to be careful of her vaccination schedule as shots are given at somewhat different times in different areas of the country. I took vaccine records with me to our first new pediatrician appointment when my daughter was 18 mos. old, and specifically asked the nurse and doctor to take note of them, as she was due for shots that day. I am a strong proponent of vaccinations, and didn't want to miss any of hers. It never occured to me that they would repeat vaccines she had already had, but that is exactly what happened! They duplicated everything that had been given at 15 mos. by our previous pediatrician. Obviously, they didn't bother to read the records I had just handed to them. I discovered the mistake when I was given a receipt by the receptionist at check out. Neither the doctor or nurse would come back and talk to me at that point. The receptionist was apologetic, and assured me that I would not be billed for the vaccines. (Nice of her, but not exactly my primary concern!)

Needless to say, that was our first and last apointment in that office. I called my old ped who assured me that as long as she didn't have an adverse reaction to the vaccine (which she did not), things would be fine.

I learned a valuable lesson not to trust anyone regarding vaccine schedules. I checked for myself prior to each appointment what shots were due, and discussed them with the doc and nurse prior to administration.

Best wishes to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi Jolie,

Nice to hear from you and I found relief in your post though it was awful what happened to your daughter. What adverse effects should I be looking for? She never had problems but it seems as with the 4th dose she seems irritable a bit. I heard and read that the 4th and 5th dose are worse for adverse effects? Why?

I am so nervous b/c she had 4 doses and she is only ten months. Should I be? I spoke with the doctor today and she was good to talk with and fully admitted it was her mistake and takes full responsibility and she was so sorry. I don't think she would make the same mistake again. I don't know though if I should go back to her or not. What would ye do? Also, how many shots were repeated on your daughter? If something is too happen when would this be? When can I breathe easier again? Thanks for listening and answering my questions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

My daughter had been given her MMR and Hib at 15 months. They were repeated at 18 mos, along with the DPT that she was scheduled to have.

My old ped cautioned me to watch out for reactions such as fever, pain and redness at the injection sites, extreme irritability, etc. Fortunately, she did not experience any of those.

In my experience, the DPT does seem to be a little "harder" on babies than some of the other vaccines. I always gave Tylenol to my girls for comfort for a day or so when they received a DPT vaccine.

I would think that the risk of a serious reaction would be past by now. I would recommend that you go to the CDC website for detailed information on the risks and side-effects of the DPT vaccine. I also found the NP at our local health department to be a great source of information regarding risks and benefits of vaccines. She seemed to be far more up-to-date than anyone in the ped's office, since vaccinations were her entire scope of practice. Perhaps you can find someone with similar expertise to advise you on how to proceed. Maybe you can have a titer drawn in the future in lieu of further vaccinations.

Best of luck to you! Enjoy that baby!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am sorry that you had all those shots done again. Thank Goodness that your dd is okay. I should contact the local health dept. like you said b/c they specialize in shots. Thanks for the tip. I must say that I am enjoying her more and more each day. The first 6 months were so hard but after that the days don't seem as hard. I know the doctor who made the mistake yesterday said she would draw titers to see if she needs anymore or not. The doctor is really nice and I do like her but I am still leary about taking her there. I will see how I feel after the weekend as this week has been so very difficult.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU,CCU,ER,Med surg,home health, office.

She may have to repeat the Dtap again ( believe it or not). When immunizations are given at incorrect times(too early) their immunity titers are not fully developed from the previous immunization. With all vaccines the varibles are many. Even if all vacccines were given by the book, titers are the only true way of knowing just how good our vaccines are. Kinda scary, huh?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

this actually just happened to my 13 week old daughter at 11 weeks i took her in for a makeup shot that was out when i took her for her first round of shots and anyways they gave her a dtap when she was suppose to get the HIB they just kept saying how it was a mistake and nothing should go wrong but I tell you I have been on pins and needles for the past 2 weeks and when it was found out that a mistake had been made a dortor ( who isn't my daughter primary doctor ) came in with the news and to make matter worse now something has went wrong with the dr office our doctor along with a few other doc are no longer employed there I have been searching the net trying to find a law to protect kids from this happing but nothing yet one person told me to sue and i don't know the first thing about that so any help would be greatly appreated

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

You would have to prove damages in order to sue. It would appear that your daughter is fine, except for having two doses of DTaP too close together.

It's beyond the scope of this discussion group to provide legal advice. If you're that concerned taht you rdaughter has or will suffer a grievous harm contact a lawyer please.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

not really wanting to take any legal matter i just want to know my daughter will be fine they say she will be so i just hope and pray that medical advice is true

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi. Sorry to hear about your daughter. I have worked family practice/pediatric offices almost 20 years now. Unfortunately, wrong immunizations do occur. DTaP I have found that infant/children can react to it anytime, not necessarily at the 4th or 5th shot. I find that children do become cranky, irritable from any vaccination. This is a normal consequence, along with redness, edema, and a lump possible with any vaccination. Those are localized reactions. Tylenol does help relieve the discomfort, any fever the infant may present. I also advise cool compresses, cool bath or pool to help decrease the inflammation. MMR is also a painful vaccination, and it does not cause autism. There is no mercury in the vaccines that our office supplies. Also, there are no confirmed reports of that from the AMA or Pediactric Assoc. I am in favor of immunizations due to influx of immigrants who are not vaccinated and causing outbreaks of pertussis, tuberculosis, haemophylis, meningitis. I am so grateful that my 2 young grandsons are receiving their vaccinations. Good luck to you & your family. NJPedsLPN:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment