Risk Management & Mitigation Flashcards
7 cards from real APHA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Risk Management & Mitigation flashcards as text
A pharmacist discovers a multi-dose vial of influenza vaccine was left at room temperature for 6 hours. What is the most appropriate risk mitigation step?
Answer: Discard the vial according to facility policy and document the excursion
Vaccines exposed to temperature excursions beyond manufacturer and CDC guidance should be discarded, and the event documented to prevent future errors.
Which of the following is a TRUE statement about contraindications versus precautions in immunization?
Answer: A contraindication generally warrants withholding the vaccine, while a precaution requires weighing risks and benefits
Contraindications typically mean the vaccine should not be given, while precautions indicate a situation where benefits and risks must be carefully weighed before vaccinating.
A patient who received the MMR vaccine 4 weeks ago needs a varicella vaccine. What risk consideration applies?
Answer: Both vaccines should have been given simultaneously or the varicella must be delayed at least 4 weeks after MMR
Two live vaccines not given simultaneously must be separated by at least 28 days; if the varicella was not given on the same day as MMR, it must be delayed 4 weeks.
When completing a VAERS report after a serious adverse event, which information is considered essential to include?
Answer: Manufacturer's lot number, vaccine administered, adverse event description, and patient demographics
A complete VAERS report includes the vaccine name, lot number, patient demographics, adverse event details, and timing to help identify safety signals.
Which strategy most effectively reduces the risk of vaccine administration to the wrong patient?
Answer: Using at least two patient identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) before vaccine preparation and administration
Using two independent patient identifiers before vaccine preparation and administration is a standard patient safety practice to prevent wrong-patient errors.
A 35-year-old pregnant patient in the first trimester requests an influenza vaccine. What is the appropriate risk management response?
Answer: Administer the inactivated influenza vaccine, as it is safe and recommended throughout pregnancy
Inactivated influenza vaccine is recommended for pregnant women in any trimester; the live attenuated (nasal) form is contraindicated during pregnancy.
What is the recommended minimum needle length for IM vaccination in an average adult to ensure intramuscular delivery and reduce injection-site adverse events?
Answer: 1 inch (25 mm)
ACIP recommends a 1-inch needle for most average-weight adults to reliably reach deltoid muscle and minimize subcutaneous deposition or SIRVA risk.