Urbandale hospital gave some kids wrong vaccine dose

URBANDALE — An Iowa hospital says it is implementing procedures to ensure it doesn't repeat a mistake made last weekend, when more than 100 children were given the wrong dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

MercyOne said in a statement that the children under age 12 at a mass vaccination event on Saturday in Urbandale should have received the prescribed 10-microgram dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Instead, they received 20 micrograms, still less than the adult dosage of 30 micrograms.

The hospital says the higher dosage could include more pronounced side effects such as a sore arm, mild fever, headache and fatigue.

The hospital says it is reaching out to parents of the children, and pediatricians are available to answer questions from the families.