Whoops! 117 People Missed a Big Shot in Singapore
What Went Wrong
In our neighborhood clinic on Oct 20–22, a sudden glitch turned the Pfizer‑BioNTech vaccine into a tiny fraction of what patients really needed.
- 111 patients got just about 10 % of the proper dose.
- 6 clinic staff – the front‑line heroes – were also short‑spilled.
- The fault turned out to be a misread “new” syringe mark that slipped past the eyes of a busy colleague.
Rapid Response
By Friday, the mistake had been spotted. No worrisome side‑effects reported, and the team sprang into action.
- A full investigation confirmed it was a one‑off case.
- All other vaccinations and services stayed intact.
- Chief Executive Adrian Ee personally apologized to the patients and their families.
Re‑Dosing and Reassurance
Instantly they began re‑rounding the dose, and every affected individual will get a doctor’s check‑up before the new shot.
The Ministry’s guidelines suggest a little hunk of extra vaccine won’t cause adverse reactions. The patients will be fully refreshed with a proper dose at the same polyclinic.
Other Slip‑Ups of the Year
Remember that dramatic January incident where a staff member inadvertently got five doses of the vaccine before realizing it was meant for the dose; and June’s 16‑year‑old got the wrong Moderna shot—clearly unapproved for under 18s. Not a great track record, but it calls for extra vigilance.
Bottom Line
After the chalk‑up, SingHealth Polyclinics is tightening procedures and training. The patients who received the smaller dose are safe for the next shot, and the team is committed to ensuring no repeats of the “small‑dose” horror story.
