Nurse Giving Flu Shots Accused Of Reusing Syringe In Mercer County
By Natasha Brown
WEST WINDSOR, N.J., (CBS) -- Authorities say a nurse is accused of reusing a syringe as she gave flu shots to employees at a local company.
The free flu shots were offered to employees at Otsuka Pharmaceutical in West Windsor, Mercer County.
On September 30, the company held a routine free flu shot clinic for its employees only to discover later that the nurse administering the shots allegedly followed anything but routine protocol by allegedly reusing a syringe while giving the flu shots.
"That's unacceptable. I mean they're supposed to use fresh needles and try to help the public, not put them in danger," said Aaron Sontag of West Windsor.
Otsuka issued the following statement saying, in part:
"We were upset and alarmed when we learned that a nurse, affiliated with TotalWellness, the company we retained to provide free flu shots for our employees, had breached vaccination protocols..."
The New Jersey Department of Health is investigating and says, in part:
"The risk of infection is low, but out of an abundance of caution, the New Jersey Department of Health, West Windsor Township Health Department and the CDC are recommending testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV."
"I get a flu shot every year," said Jim Ferrara of West Windsor. "I figure it can't hurt and if it prevents me from getting ill and it usually has, then I'll do it."
TotalWellness has offered to take care of any necessary screenings and issued a statement saying, in part:
"We take full responsibility for this incident and are working diligently with the New Jersey Department of Health to resolve this matter as swiftly as possible."
Still nerves are rattled and confidence shaken, for those looking to get flu shots this season.
"Our company always hires a nurse actually to come in and to give flu shots to everybody so that we can do it on company time so everybody is healthy," said Rachel Castria of West Windsor.
The New Jersey Department of Health has referred the name of the nurse involved to the state Board of Nursing, which regulates and takes disciplinary action against nurses.