I was at CVS Pharmacy Friday getting my flu shot and an RSV vaccination. The person giving me the shot (not a pharmacist) pulled off the protective cover and winced. I thought she had poked herself in the thumb with the needle. She indicated she was ok, then she went ahead and gave me the shot anyway. Did that just happen? I then figured maybe she had just snagged herself on the cover. So, my Healthchart app wants some kind of documentation of the shot so they can mark it off as complete. I’m waiting for them to print it out and I overhear her talking to her coworkers about any kind of protocol over getting tagged. I go home and get a call from CVS a few hours later. It’s the Pharmacist that was on duty, filling in for the regular one. He reports to me that it actually happened. She had indeed scraped herself with the little foil cap and had an abrasion. She had also poked herself, drawing blood, and then gave me the injection. Their people were supposed to get back to me this week. Tuesday and still haven’t heard from them. I went back to the pharmacy and got as much information as I could, the district manager’s info and so forth. I then went to the emergency room, being it was Friday after 7pm, I was there for about 3 1/2 hours. They did blood tests and then told me to contact my primary care provider. I talk to her today in a little over an hour from now. I’m up on my vaccinations, including Hep B and they did a titer to confirm antibodies. The ER Doctor said even if the person was known to be HIV +, the chances I had were 0.3%. If it was a back alley stranger I’d worry, but I figure someone at CVS pharmacy who’s qualified to give shots is likely up on hers as well and not HIV +, so not really worried. I’m just checking on if there’s anything I haven’t really considered. I at least want them to compensate me for the ER copay and my PCP copay (right now $105 total). I just had my appendix out last month and have been nickel and dimed copays. Any legal repercussions? Wife said to not sign any releases.
The fact that she poked herself and then went ahead and put the same needle into your body is a MASSIVE violation. I would be much angrier than you appear to be. I recommend discussing this with a lawyer.
Given the discussion of percentage threats, has she been tested for HIV? Are they going to get back to you with results? She should be given a slate of tests for any and all possible blood-borne disease and the results shared with you. This is outrageous.
Personally… I’d call an attorney. It’s probably zero chance you got a bad disease. But you were harmed..and now you have bills.
I watch closely everytime my skin is stuck, poked or opened. I want hands washed and gloves on. I prefer a mask but I can back down on that except at dialysis.
If they’re not coming through on paying your bills, sue 'em!
Just my opinion. From a person who’s had many many invasive procedures and needles. YMMV, of course.
One thing I’ve learned is to not rush into things so that I don’t make bad, rash decisions. This is potentially serious so it has to be done carefully. Thanks, so far.
Without the shadow of a doubt, and HIDING the fact she did it adds even more to it. I just can’t understand it. I would have said, “Yeah, I messed up and poked myself. Let me clean up, and I’ll be back with a fresh hypodermic to give you your injection.”
Why would she not do that?!! I’d fire her ass NOW.
I agree with other posters. Don’t sign any releases above all else. Don’t settle for what the pharmacy tells you, they are definitely not your advocate, every thing they do or say is to limit their liability.
Right away get yourself seen by an infectious disease doctor, this is outside the bailiwick of PCPs. You need a phalanx of blood tests done, with follow-up draws in weeks to come. You probably need to be on a prophylactic anti-HIV regimen until all of her blood tests come back clear. I needed to do all of these things whenever I had a ‘dirty’ needle stick in my 45 year career of nursing.
Again, don’t trust the pharmacy to do the right thing. Advocate for yourself, get preventative care from a specialist. Take the HIV preventative pills (they aren’t difficult to tolerate IME). I don’t know how to, in your state specifically, contact the right regulatory licensing board to initiate requiring the pharmacy to do all of the screening of her needed and then to report the results to your physician. I’d start with the pharmacy board though.
Weirdly, it was the RSV shot and the first hypodermic needle was damaged, so she had to get another one. It couldn’t have been the flu one where they have a million of those. A new one would have been the 3rd. When she was talking to her coworkers, manager, she was more concerned about having been poked herself rather than what followed.
Sheesh, what a nightmare. We had a first-time vaccinator for our Covid shots a few months ago at Walgreens. Another pharma was in the room to monitor her, which was good, as she was really inept. I watched her like a hawk to make sure she didn’t contaminate things.
Agreed (along with everyone else). I’d also see what can be done about making CVS cover all your medical bills for this. Make sure, I’m sure you are, but make sure every time you interact with a medical professional regarding this incident, you mention exactly what happened. The more of your charts that include “CVS pharmacist accidentally stuck herself, drawing blood, then gave PT injection with same needle” the better.
I do think at least talking to a lawyer is a good idea. This could get expensive depending on what the next few blood tests say. And, like other’s said, don’t sign anything.
This is why I’m always leery of retail vaccinations, and I’m grateful my health plan has a very liberal policy toward making everything available to me when I want it. I’m sorry to hear about your accident, and hope everything works out fine. It most likely will, but it’s so unnecessary and scary, too.
One guess would be that she is a newer employee and got flustered that she’d already wasted one RSV vaccine unit which retails for $350 and was reluctant to waste another one causing her employer so much lost cost.
Why she was concerned for herself being stuck by a sterile needle but had no concern sticking you with a contaminated one speaks to very poor training and supervision.
It’s been a fun few months. In June, I got appendicitis. Was in the hospital on IV drip antibiotics for 4 days to calm it down, then had surgery in August for it. That involved several evaluation visits pre and post, plus multiple bills of what insurance covered just up to. Also, ended up paying my full deductible. In July, on the way home from Jury duty, I got rear-ended. Minor, but enough to damage my bumper and set off his airbags. Had a neck injury that was minor but still a Dr visit. Had my regularly scheduled PCP visit due to D type 2 (got my A1C down from 11 last year to 6). Have a sleep study coming that was already postponed due to the wife’s mother in Florida having a stroke the week of my study. Even that will be the second one after a home test. Just had my urologist visit. Each one of these involves a copay. Not that it’s expensive, but 10+ plus a ER copay kind of is expensive. I’ve had shots there for years, including Hep B and Covid shots. Vac during the other visits didn’t come up and figured I was safe for a free shot. Oh, and got a new puppy with his slew of new puppy vet bills.
I barely used my insurance in 30 years of employment and retirement (from that company that still provides it) and have now used it more the past year than ever in my life. Ugh.
Absolutely massive medical malpractice. I encourage you to seriously consider legal action, and even if you decide against that, file a formal complaint with whatever entity licenses pharmacists in your State.
Even if she didn’t transmit any blood-borne diseases, she may have contaminated the needle with skin bacteria before injecting you with it. Be vigilant for any sign of infection at the injection site. I once had such an infection caused by a contaminated needle and it was not trivial at all to get cleared up.
Good idea. They should know how to start a report to the pertinent licensing board and have the pharmacy take over all upcoming medical expenses as well as reimburse you for co-pays and your insurance company for expenses up til now. The ER alone is likely to be more than a thousand.