Julia Miller graduated from Troy University, majoring in communications. During her time at Troy, she joined her school's local news station, TROY TrojanVision News, where she discovered her passion for journalism.
A warning from the Alabama Department of Public Health on an injection commonly used to treat a number of bacterial infections in people of all ages.
This comes as reports of serious adverse reactions have occurred recently to those who've received the shot in the Shoals area.
WAAY 31 spoke with healthcare providers in the Shoals. On Tuesday, many doctors -- whether or not they carry the affected batch of Rocephin -- decided to pause giving the drug until the state completes its investigation.
Dr. Wayne Melvin with Tennessee Valley Pediatric Associates said Rocephin is a widely used antibiotic for bacterial infections. When his team heard about the concerns, they immediately took to social media to let the community know about the potential risks tied to the injection.
"If you got the Rocephin in the last week or so, there are no worries because the reactions are immediate; just don't get any Rocephin for now until we find out for sure. There are still a lot of unknowns," said Dr. Melvin.
Dr. Melvin added that there's no clear answer yet as to how this kind of issue happens and urged people to stay mindful of the medications they're given.
"If you go to an urgent care or an emergency room, until the Alabama Department of Public Health gives the all-clear, I would not let a child or adult get Rocephin," he said.
We'll keep you updated on this story as we learn more.
The following is a statement from the Alabama Department of Public Health:
"The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is sending a Health Alert Network (HAN) communication (linked below) to providers in Alabama regarding an investigation of potential adverse reactions to injections of the antibiotic, ceftriaxone. APDH is asking providers to report potential adverse reactions through an established, confidential link. While no causal link between ceftriaxone and these reactions has been established, at this time, ADPH will continue to act to promote and protect the health of the citizens of Alabama by investigating, responding, and updating information accordingly."