Talk about disturbing- fake flu shots

**Kimberlina** · 10-28-2005, 07:57 PM

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/ar...28174109990017

**Kimberlina** · 10-28-2005, 07:58 PM

It's bad enough to get a fake flu shot, but I am utterly horrified by the fact that one of the employees kept sticking himself, which means that people were getting injections with dirty needles. Whoever did that should go to jail!

**bamamomto4** · 10-28-2005, 08:44 PM

OH MY!!! yep..they should go to jail!

**Chea** · 10-28-2005, 09:16 PM

How scary!! I just got mine through work but HOPEFULLY since its a hospital its ok. I'm just wondering what was in the syringes!

**Kimberlina** · 10-28-2005, 09:40 PM

Well I sure hope it was just water....

**canadian gardener** · 10-28-2005, 10:34 PM

Last year a Seattle nurse was convicted of the same fraud. The flu is in the news, it's very high on the priority of many to get the shots even though it's a different flu that is worrying the scientists (bird flu which has not yet transferred in large numbers to humans, and then human to human in quantity)

It isn't surprising that after SARS and all the bird flu press, that a market has formed creating opportunity for the scammers.

It is quite reasonable to ask to check the bottle and watch them draw the syringe from it, using a sterile needle that has JUST BEEN UNWRAPPED from it's packaging.

YOUR LIFE MAY DEPEND ON IT!!!

As a nurse, I'd be very very very suspect of any prefilled syringes that didn't come in sterile packaging.

Repeat, I don't care how much time it "saves" the people giving shots, NEVER NEVER NEVER let ANYONE give you a needle that wasn't opened up before your eyes.

The wrapping on a sterile syringe must be peeled back, then the wrapping on the needle and it's cap must be peeled back, and the two screwed together without being touched except on the outside of the syringe, and the cap of the needle. (no skin touches the inside surface of the needle where it joins the syringe)

And I'd be checking the label on the bottle (which is usually multi dose-- so don't be upset if the bottle is half empty, it's normal for vaccines at least in Canada to come in multi dose bottles with a sterile rubber top, that the nurse (who should be an RN btw!!!)

that the nurse uses to fill a syringe (that was just opened!!!).

So check the label to see what you are getting. Look and see if the nurse (should be an RN, ask for credentials if you wish, it's your right)

Look and see if the RN has a bunch more boxes of unopened vials, and check the label on the box to make sure that this hasn't been tampered with.

To repeat.

The vial has several doses,

Check the label

Syringes and needles come in 2 separate paper and plastic sterile wrap packages and must be combined by the nurse.

(although nowadays maybe they come all in one unit)

A syringe and needle must ONLY BE USED ONCE and then properly discarded in a sharps container.

I'd also be leery of seeing them inject people ahead of me and set the syringes and needles aside!!!!

Those sharps go for disposal immediately and are stored prior to disposal in a clearly labeled plastic box with a narrow top that you can't pull them back out of, marked SHARPS or BIOHAZARDOUS MATERIAL.

If they don't do that, they may be re using the syringes later, or selling them to drug addicts.

**PrairieRose** · 10-29-2005, 04:24 PM

That's very, very scarey.

**Kimberlina** · 10-29-2005, 07:53 PM

Yup- when I take needles out, I make sure that my patients can see me opening a new needle for them. I don't get anything ready ahead of time.

Slightly OT, but also good to know- I also make sure that they have the opportunity to see me label their blood with their names. And when I have my own bloodwork done, or any sort of specimen for that matter, I make sure that it is labelled before I leave the room. I do the same with DD's specimens.