Two elderly aged-care residents in Queensland have been administered an overdose of the Pfizer vaccine, Australia's Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, confirmed on Wednesday.
An 88-year-old male and 94-year-old woman received four times the recommended dose, according to initial reports. The elderly pair were inoculated at the Holy Spirit Nursing Home in Carseldine, a suburb of Brisbane.
Hunt told reporters that a doctor contracted by the federal government - and specifically trained to administer the COVID-19 vaccine - had given an incorrect dose to the two patients on Tuesday.
The aged-care residents are currently being monitored, the minister said, but have yet to show signs of an adverse reaction. It's understood the man is in hospital and the woman is under close observation.
A nurse quickly stepped in when she noticed a significantly larger dose was administered to the patients.
"I want to thank her for her strength of character and professionalism," Hunt said.
The doctor has been stood down from the vaccination programme. An investigation is now underway to determine if the doctor had possibly misunderstood - or not completed - his training.
The state's vaccination roll-out will continue as planned, Hunt said.
Both the federal government and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk are expected to address the bungle later on Wednesday.
