A HEALTH boss has apologised to a mother whose 15-month-old son was given the wrong injection on a visit to Darwen Health Centre.

Toddler Harry Chippendale was taken to the new centre for his MMR injection last week.

But 48 hours later, his mum Lisa Beech, 25, received a phone call to say he had received the meningitis injection instead.

Although Harry has had no side-effects from the vaccination, Lisa said she wanted to raise awareness of the mistake so it did not happen to anyone else.

Lisa, of Newton Street, Darwen, said: "Harry was meant to be having his MMR vaccination which you usually have at about 12 months.

"As we were leaving the health centre, one of the nurses came after us and asked to look at his medical book. She was looking at it for a while and then said everything was fine.

"Fortunately Harry was okay after the injection but then on Wednesday morning I received a phone call from the health centre to say they had given him the meningitis injection, which he had at four months old, instead of MMR.

"I just panicked about what was going to happen to Harry and whether there were any side-effects.

"The woman apologised and said she had phoned my doctor and he had said the there would be no side-effects and that Harry would just have a double immune system.

"I am not happy about what has happened and I'm worried that it if happens again to someone else's child, it may be an injection that could have side-effects and that child might not be so lucky.

"The amount of time it took for them to contact me seemed excessive, too."

Clare Rae, director of primary care, said: "We are very sorry indeed that this has happened and for the distress it has caused.

"We are fully investigating the circumstances to make sure nothing like this happens again.

"On behalf of the Primary Care Trust, I would apologise unreservedly and should the parents wish to discuss this further, they are very welcome to contact me."

Harry will now have to wait another month before he can have his MMR injection, which is given to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella or German measles.