(KCRG) – 77 inmates in the Iowa State Penitentiary accidentally received excessive doses of COVID vaccine, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC).
Officials say two medical staff administered the Pfizer vaccine incorrectly to the prisoners, with the dose exceeding the amount recommended by the manufacturer.
After finding out about the error, the DOC said they immediately contacted the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for guidance.
Affected detainees have been notified of the mistake and are being closely monitored by medical staff, officials said. The CDC and Pfizer suggested that they did not expect major side effects, but recommended that the DOC closely monitor detainees for at least 48 hours. The DOC said it intends to carry out regular medical checks for a few days.
According to the DOC, the only side effects experienced by inmates were those commonly associated with the Pfizer vaccine.
As a result, the DOC temporarily suspended the administration of the vaccine in prison while an investigation is being carried out.
The two staff members who administered the vaccines were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
According to the DOC, 200 detainees in the Iowa State Penitentiary received the first dose of COVID vaccine and 48 detainees received the second dose. At the departmental level, 1,964 detainees received the first dose and 214 detainees received the second dose of vaccine.
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