School staff at Schofield Elementary School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, thought they were getting some much-needed protection against the swine flu that is ravaging schools and leeching sick days from staff. They weren’t. What they were getting was a serious health risk. Rather than getting the swine flu vaccine, faculty and staff were actually getting insulin injections. Whoops!
School superintendent Bella Wong says that the insulin actually belonged to a diabetic student and wasn’t meant for staff. Still, several staff members had to be hospitalized as a result of getting the wrong shot at the wrong time. All have recovered, and the nurse has been put on administrative leave while the school system investigates the potentially lethal screw-up.
That’s why I’m sticking with garlic and onions to prevent swine flu. There’s no way I’m going to mistake a clove of garlic for my cat’s insulin, or an onion for my dad’s insulin. Plus, it’s delicious.
Image: KATU
Tags: Wellesley, Massachusetts, Schofield Elementary School, swine flu vaccine switched with insulin, vaccine mistakes, school staff given insulin shots instead of swine flu shots, mistakes, medical accidents, Bella Wong