New Zealand woman vaccinated with a used needle

An investigation is underway in New Zealand after a woman was given a COVID-19 vaccination with a needle that had already been used on another person.

The incident happened at a Christchurch Hospital vaccination clinic on Friday afternoon.

Speaking anonymously, the husband of the woman who was injected with the used needle told Stuff his wife was really stressed about the incident.

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The woman is a health board employee and was receiving her third booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the time, the man said.

He described what happened as "really concerning".

The Canterbury District Health Board said a "comprehensive investigation" into how the mistake occurred was now underway.

The health board's senior responsible officer for COVID-19 response, Dr Helen Skinner, said in a statement the board had apologised to both people who were injected with the needle.

Blood samples had since been taken from both people.

The woman's husband said results came through on Tuesday afternoon and showed everything was normal.

Dr Skinner said the health board was doing everything it could to support those involved, including the vaccinator and both people who were injected.

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The board would implement any improvements to its systems that would reduce the chance of a similar incident happening again.

Dr Skinner said the affected woman was told immediately when staff realised what had happened.

"We will continue to communicate with the person injected with a pre-used needle, supporting them and sharing any new information we receive."