Children Receive Wrong COVID-19 Vaccine Dosage From Loudoun Pharmacy

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A Loudoun County pharmacy has been removed from the state's vaccination program after the pharmacy mistakenly gave 112 children ages 5 to 11 the wrong doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to state health officials.

The Virginia Department of Health said it believes the Ted Pharmacy in Aldie gave the children a lower dose of the adult Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine than recommended.

On Nov. 5, state and federal authorities ordered Ted Pharmacy to discontinue administering the vaccine, and VDH subsequently collected all the COVID-19 vaccines from the pharmacy.

Health officials instructed the Aldie pharmacy to notify parents about next steps, including the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about whether patients should restart the vaccine series or receive a correct second dose. The state health department said it is also working to contact parents to ensure they understand the guidance on next steps.

The VDH said it has not received any other reports of pharmacies or providers administering COVID-19 vaccines formulated for 12 years and older to children ages 5 to 11. The health department contacted other pharmacy partners with additional communication that outlined vaccine administration guidance.

The VDH also issued a letter to clinicians on Nov. 5 outlining information about a new vaccine formulation. The letter was drafted prior to receiving information about the incorrect doses administered to children at the pharmacy in Aldie.

On Oct. 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine to include children ages 5 to 11. The FDA also authorized a new formulation of the Pfizer vaccine for people 12 years and older.

On Nov. 2, the CDC recommended the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The Pfizer vaccine for children 5 to 11 should be administered as a two-dose primary series, three weeks apart.

In Virginia, COVID-19 vaccination of these younger children began on Nov. 3. The VDH said the state will have enough supply of the Pfizer vaccine for all children in this age group.

The new pediatric formulation comes in vials with orange caps and allows for the delivery of a lower dose — 10 micrograms — than the 30 micrograms for people aged 12 years and older, the VDH said in the letter issued to clinicians on Nov. 5. The Pfizer vaccine for people aged 12 years and older is supplied in vials with purple or gray caps and should not be used for children ages 5 to 11, the letter said.

The CDC warned that providers cannot simply give young children 10 micrograms of the adult dose, since that vaccine has a different buffer and the dose cannot be assured in this smaller volume.

Federal regulators have determined the Pfizer vaccine is safe for children. Vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 are available at multiple locations across the state. Visit the state vaccine website for help finding a location for scheduling a vaccine appointment.