Jabs blunder put my son's health at risk; Mum claims her lad had wrong injection as baby.

Byline: By HELEN RAE Health Reporter

A MUM claims her son has been left with a series of health problems after a doctor told her he was given the wrong injection as a baby.

Kiran Newham was only eight weeks old when he was apparently accidently vaccinated against tuberculosis rather than diphtheria and whooping cough by staff at Dr Krishnan's practice, in Rawling Road, Bensham, his mum Deborah claims.

She says the nine-year-old suffered a severe reaction to the injection and now has facial spasms and a susceptibility to cold and flu virus which she attributes to the mistake.

As reported in The Chronicle, Dr Krishnan's practice has had to recall around 50 youngsters after it came to light a member of staff had put several vaccinations into a single syringe rather than giving the child two injections.

This could mean the immunisations might not have worked properly, failing to protect the youngsters against illnesses such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and some types of meningitis and blood poisoning.

Deborah claims her other son Thomas, seven, was also put at serious risk of catching a fatal disease following that mix-up in immunisations at the doctor's surgery.

The 43-year-old shop assistant, of Low Fell, Gateshead, said: "It's appalling to think a doctor's surgery can make vaccination mix-ups.

"I'm devastated and annoyed about what's happened to Kiran.

"My son consistently makes twitching facial expressions and his immune system is very low. He is always catching a cold or flu - more than would be expected - and often needs to be on antibiotics.

"I believe he has these problems because doctors have told me he was given the wrong vaccination.

"Patients put their trust in doctors and nurses and I feel my children have been badly let down. Thomas been at school without being vaccinated which might not protect against serious diseases."

Children in the region between 10 and 14 are offered the BCG vaccination against tuberculosis. Only babies considered at risk of the disease are given the jab with the consent of a parent and they must has a skin test first.

Deborah said the mix-up was uncovered when Kiran was three after a doctor came to see her son when he had been critically ill in hospital with pneumonia and noticed the BCG jab scar.

"I was livid when I was told and couldn't quite believe such a mistake could happen," the mum-of-three said.

"I feel I need, and deserve, answers from the surgery."

A spokeswoman for Gateshead Primary Care Trust said: "Immunisation is vitally important for the health of our children in Gateshead and is an issue we take very seriously.

"If any parent has questions about their child's vaccinations, we would urge them to contact our Public Health department on (0191) 497 1532 and we will do all we can to address their concerns."

CAPTION(S):

UPSET: Kiran Newham, left, with mum Deborah and brother Thomas. Deborah has been told Kiran received a tuberculosis vaccination in error as a baby