Hyderabad, June 02: The state health department has recorded an alarming 13 deaths in the 0-5 age group in the first five months of 2011, the highest in the corresponding period in last three years. The deaths were reported within 24 hours of the children being vaccinated, mostly after an oral polio vaccine was administered.
While this figure may appear insignificant for the state health authorities who immunise 14 lakh children annually for seven diseases, the 13 deaths are high when compared to last year’s total of 12 deaths. In 2009, there were 15 deaths reported post vaccination while in 2008, 17 deaths were reported.
The latest case was reported on May 15 when an infant in Kadapa died a day after she was vaccinated for DPT, polio and Hepatitis B. In all, six children died in different parts of the state between February and May this year after they were given the DPT, OPV and Hepatitis B shots. However, OPV was a fixture in all the 13 deaths, which have occurred so far this year. The official reason for the deaths as per government records: adverse events following immunisation.
Expert committees investigating into these cases concluded that the deaths were due to illnesses the children were suffering from when they were administered the vaccine. The illnesses attributed to included acute gastroenteritis, fever, anaemia, respiratory distress, asphyxia, sudden infant death syndrome, etc.
Experts, however, question the competence of healthcare professionals in state-run hospitals who administered the vaccines to sick children.
“It is difficult to believe how they have arrived at these conclusions. In 80 per cent of the cases, it is difficult to ascertain the cause of death in infants. Most importantly, sick children should not be administered the vaccine,” said Veena Shatrugna, former deputy director, National Institute of Nutrition. Dr D Ranganath, professor of paediatrics, Niloufer Hospital, said, “Deaths after vaccination could be a reaction to the components of vaccine. Either it could be due to preservatives or the content.”
Standard procedures laid down for the usage of these vaccines are violated in some cases. “If vaccine vials are not used within six hours of opening, they can get contaminated. But overworked and untrained staff with targets to meet are some of the problems ailing the state run health centres,” says Dr Anant Phadke, a public health expert based in Pune.
Healthcare experts urged the government to appoint an independent committee to tighten the process.
Doctors said that whenever a vaccine is administered, health professionals should have oxygen and anti-anphylaxis drugs within reach for inducing immunologic tolerance to avert complications. “These precautions are hardly taken,” says Dr Ranganath.
“There are several reasons for the deaths. But they are certainly not related to vaccines. We are maintaining the cold chain perfectly,” said Dr T Neerada, joint director, immunisation. “Not vaccinating children will only increase the number of deaths,” said Dr Nirada.
–Agencies