MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Since the nationwide meningitis outbreak more Mid-Southerners are questioning the safety of their shots, like the flu shot or B12. Ever wonder where your vaccine comes from? It's a question that never crossed a lot of minds until now.
"I guess if I went to go get a steroid shot I would be nervous, there's always a possibility it can be contaminated,” said Taylor Pasley, who was getting a B12 shot.
A dozen people in Tennessee have died from contaminated medicine linked to an outbreak of fungal meningitis and nearly 100 have become sick from it.
"A lot of the ones from Tennessee were from a pain clinic in Nashville,” said Dr. Steve Threlkeld, an Infectious Disease Specialist from Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Threlkeld says none of that tainted medicine came to Memphis.
"Thankfully the episode like the one we found recently in Massachusetts is extremely rare. Those things can be tracked and followed."
The Shot Nurse gets all its medication from 2 pharmaceutical companies in Memphis and Shelby County.
"Flu vaccines and all the vaccines are made by a manufacturer that has to go by strict FDA regulations,” said Registered Nurse Deborah Overall. "We record all of our lot numbers, all of our expiration dates, and you can trace that back. All vaccines have a certificate that goes with them."
Many people we spoke with aren't worried about the outbreak at all. Bottom line: have a good family physician or go to a reputable place to get your shots.
Dr. Threlkeld says he's seen a lot of viral meningitis going around. That's different then the fungal meningitis linked to tainted steroid shots. People typically get headaches and sometimes a fever with the viral meningitis. He says the main cause of it is people not washing your hands and then touching your face.
