diff --git a/app/models/immunisation_import_row.rb b/app/models/immunisation_import_row.rb
index 3dcbebde4a..7b4dcc2740 100644
--- a/app/models/immunisation_import_row.rb
+++ b/app/models/immunisation_import_row.rb
@@ -851,13 +851,13 @@ def validate_dose_sequence
         two_words_connector: " or "
       )
 
+    dose_sequence_error_message =
+      "Enter a numeric which must be either #{dose_sequence_examples}."
+
     if dose_sequence.present? ||
          parsed_vaccination_description_string&.dig(:dose_sequence).present?
       if dose_sequence_value.nil?
-        errors.add(
-          field.header,
-          "Enter a dose sequence number, for example, #{dose_sequence_examples}."
-        )
+        errors.add(field.header, dose_sequence_error_message)
       elsif maximum_dose_sequence
         if dose_sequence_value < 1
           errors.add(field.header, "must be greater than 0")
@@ -879,10 +879,7 @@ def validate_dose_sequence
           end
         )
       else
-        errors.add(
-          field.header,
-          "Enter a dose sequence number, for example, #{dose_sequence_examples}."
-        )
+        errors.add(field.header, dose_sequence_error_message)
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/models/immunisation_import_row_spec.rb b/spec/models/immunisation_import_row_spec.rb
index 619199dfa3..1847e79e19 100644
--- a/spec/models/immunisation_import_row_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/immunisation_import_row_spec.rb
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@
         it "has the correct error message" do
           immunisation_import_row.valid?
           expect(immunisation_import_row.errors["DOSE_SEQUENCE"]).to include(
-            "Enter a dose sequence number, for example, 1 or 2."
+            "Enter a numeric which must be either 1 or 2."
           )
         end
       end