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Anti-rabies vaccine victims still critical

The condition of two Delhi residents, who had taken ill after being administered an anti-rabies vaccine at the NDMC Charak Palika Hospital, continues to be serious. Karn Pratap Singh reports. The viral story

Updated on: Sep 22, 2011, 01:07:14 IST
Hindustan Times | By , New Delhi
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The condition of two Delhi residents, who had taken ill after being administered an anti-rabies vaccine at the NDMC Charak Palika Hospital, continues to be serious. They have been on life support system in Safdurjung Hospital's ICU for over 60 hours now.

HT Image
HT Image

According to hospital sources, the chances of their survival are minimal as they are hardly showing any signs of recovery. Preliminary investigation of the South Campus police states that the anti-rabies injections administered to the victims got contaminated as the carton containing the vials had not been properly refrigerated.

"We have learnt that the carton got wet in the rain due to administrative mismanagement," said a senior investigating officer. He also added that the vials in question had been manufactured and supplied by Bharat Biotech International Ltd in Hyderabad.

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The police are now planning to send the used vials to forensic lab for examination. The eight unused vials of the carton will also be examined.

They are also awaiting the inquiry report of the four-member NDMC committee that is probing into the matter. According to a senior police officer, the NDMC inquiry report will help them fix the responsibility and take further action.

The preliminary inquiry report, accessed by HT, stated that on Monday, 14 people had been administered anti-rabies vaccine at the Charak Palika hospital. "The reaction was noticed only in these two patients," the report said.

Chandra Negi, 45, the mother of a Delhi Police head constable, and NDMC employee Sunil Sharma, 50, had an anaphylactic reaction a few minutes after they were administered a dose of the vaccine Indirab. Sharma was shifted to Max, Saket hospital late on Wednesday evening.

Alleging lackadaisical approach on the part of Charak Palika Hospital, Chandra's son Harish said, "They didn't inform us about the incident. Instead, my sister was asked to search for our mother in Safdarjung Hospital without being given a valid reason. We want proper action to be taken against the culprits."

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