16 Students Sent to Hospital After Being Given Wrong Shots

Multiple students were sent to a local hospital after given the wrong shots at an Indiana school.

Published: 9/30/2019, 7:15:56 PM EDT

16 Students Sent to Hospital After Being Given Wrong Shots — A picture of a gloved hand holding a syringe. (Jochen Pippir/Pixabay)

Multiple students were sent to a local hospital after receiving the wrong shots at an Indiana school on Sept. 30, according to multiple reports.

WBIW reported that the Lawrence Township school was conducting tuberculosis (TB) screenings at the McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology, and 16 students had been undergoing the tests at the center. However, when administering shots, the Community Health Network had given a small dosage of insulin instead of the TB skin tests, the news outlet reported.

According to IndyStar, during a TB skin test, medical personnel usually inject a person with liquid into the lower arm, wherein after, a small pale bump would appear on the skin where the liquid was injected. Within two to three days, medical personnels would check on the arm to look for any reaction that a person may have had to the liquid.

Dana Altemeyer, the District spokesperson, said that these 16 students participating in the TB tests were part of the science program, and the program required a TB test going forward, IndyStar reported.

As soon as they realized the mistake, the McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology worked together with the Community Health Network and immediately transported the students to the local hospital for observation, according to the statement from the McKenzie Center for Innovation and Technology.

They also notified the parents of the 16 students transported to the hospital, the statement read.

"We are working closely with the Community Health Network to determine the cause of the error; and to evaluate processes as needed," the statement further read. Their goal is to solve the issue and make sure it does not happen again.

"The MSD of Lawrence Township has a long-standing and strong partnership with Community Health Network. We have full confidence that the events of today are isolated in nature and will be addressed swiftly by the Community Health Network," the statement read.

According to IndyStar, having too much insulin in the body could cause the person to have low blood sugar, or hypoglycaemia, and if a person were to go untreated for low blood sugar for a long time, it could be serious. A person who has too much insulin in their body may exhibit symptoms such as confusion, a fast heartbeat, lightheadedness, headaches, blurred vision, and overall weakness in the body. Certain people might also exhibit, in severe cases of low blood sugar, seizures, or could go into a coma.