Covid 19 coronavirus: a vaccine overdose in Germany brings healthcare workers to hospital

Eight healthcare workers in Germany were accidentally injected five times the recommended dose of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine, Reuters reports.

Four of the workers from the town of Stralsund nursing home in the Vorpommern-Ruegen district went to the hospital for observation after developing flu-like symptoms in response to the overdose.

“I am deeply sorry for the incident,” said District Chief Stefan Kerth, administrator of the area where the nursing home is located.

“This individual case is due to individual errors. I hope that everyone affected does not experience serious side effects.”

The mishap occurs as Germany begins launching vaccines.

The country had a relatively low death rate in the first phase of the pandemic, but has been hit hard by a second wave of the virus.

Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this month instituted a “strict lockdown” to try to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The new restrictions meant that stores and schools were closed until January. Social gatherings are also limited during the Christmas period.

Germany’s confirmed death toll from the coronavirus pandemic has exceeded 30,000. Among the major European nations, Italy, the United Kingdom, France and Spain still have higher death rates.

– additional reports: AP