E-Paper
Medical team from Delhi to probe vaccine deaths
A special medical team from Delhi is slated to visit Gujarat shortly to study the cause of death of four children after they were administered oral vaccine for measles in Adipur town of Kutch district in Gujarat on Wednesday.
A special medical team from Delhi is slated to visit Gujarat shortly to study the cause of death of four children after they were administered oral vaccine for measles in Adipur town of Kutch district in Gujarat on Wednesday.
An official spokesman of the state government said Thursday the foods and drugs department has collected samples of the same vaccines from key places in the state and sent them for laboratory test.
The state health department has also initiated a check and review of the mass immunization drive underway in the state. The state government has already suspended the mass immunization drive till further orders.
The leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Shaktisnh Gohil, however, charged the state government with negligence in the mass immunization drive.
He said as per the instructions issued by the central government based on the guidelines of the World Health Organisation, every staff member involved in mass immunization drive must be specially trained in "Adverse Effects After Immunization (AEAI)" programme since measles vaccines particularly had the tendency to cause "Anaphylytic Shock" which could cause death within minutes if not treated immediately.
Such treatment was required to be provided on the spot in case of such an eventuality but unfortunately the state government had made no arrangements for training of the staff involved in the mass immunization programme, he added.
