Deaths of newborns lead to paranoia
Even as the directorate of health services (DHS) categorically rule out the possibility of vaccination causing these deaths, post-mortem reports, for the first time, go on record casting a doubt on it. A national team will review the reports during their next visit to the state, DHS Dr Jameela told TOI. Autopsy report of Ajilesh, a 47-day-old boy who died a day after vaccination was given at Chalakkudy Government Hospital on December 29, 2012, states that death as a result of post vaccination sequelae could not be ruled out".
The report has been issued by police surgeon, Govt Medical College, Thrissur.
Similarly, a source, who was in the team that did the post-mortem on a 42-day-old girl from Nedupuzha, who died on January 10, told TOI that the draft report points at vaccination as a possible cause of death. The report will be finalised on Friday. Both the new-borns were healthy and had no other medical condition that would have caused their deaths.
Ajilesh's autopsy report said: "Preliminary reports of microbiological and histopathological findings, no definite opinion as to the cause of death can be furnished. Death due to natural disease, injury and asphyxiation are ruled out. However, death as a result of post-vaccination sequelae could not be ruled out".
"Several common factors like severe pulmonary haemorrhage were noted in both the cases. There was nothing contributing to the cause of haemorrhage other than vaccination," said a source who was part of the post-mortem done on two kids.
Top officials from the Office of District Medical Officer, Thrissur, confirmed that they had noted the link between child deaths and vaccination mentioned in the post-mortem report. "We had convened meeting of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) committee on January 4 and 14 following the incidents," said a top official.
"We verified the report and are sure that deaths weren't caused by pentavalent vaccines. Delayed Hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis shock that takes place within an hour of vaccination is the only possible negative reaction. Both the kids didn't show such symptoms", said Dr Jameela.
Ajilesh's mother Liji K T said the baby was examined by the doctor before vaccine was given. The 42-day old girl, daughter of Remya of Nedupuzha and Rajesh of Thiruvananthapuram, was administered the vaccine at the PHC, Koorkenchery. The infant showed no symptoms of uneasiness or disease before and after vaccine was administered on January 9.
"The next morning we saw her lying motionless and bleeding from nose. We rushed her to the nearby private hospital in Koorkenchery where she was declared dead," said Jayanthi Thundiparambil, baby's grandmother.
Both newborns were healthy and had no pre-existing medical conditions that may have caused their deaths."Several common factors like severe pulmonary haemorrhage were noted in both the cases.
There was nothing contributing to the cause of haemorrhage other than vaccination," said a source to the TOI who was part of the post-mortem done on two kids. Officials from the Office of District Medical Officer in
Thrissur, confirmed that they had took note of the link between child
deaths and vaccination mentioned in the post-mortem report.
Central team to collect samples of vaccine batches
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The samples of vaccine batches used for immunization in these 15 cases, including cases related to pentavalent administration, would be sent for tests to the laboratories in Chennai. The adverse effects of immunization were reviewed at a high-level meeting convened by the director of health service here. The meeting took stock of 15 cases, including the latest deaths of two infants in Thrissur allegedly due to pentavalent vaccination, that occurred in the state since 2011.
The meeting reviewed the forensic and pathological reports of all the 15 cases and learnt to have observed that there was no concrete evidence to prove that the vaccination led to the deaths or any severe allergic reactions.
The meeting, Adverse Effects After Immunization (AEFI), was attended by the representatives from World Health Organization (WHO), the Union health ministry and central drugs control department, apart from the heads of forensic and pathology departments.
The experts from WHO and Union health ministry are learnt to have decided to visit Thrissur where two infants died after being administered pentavalent vaccine. The team is expected to visit the hospital and the parents of the infants.
On Tuesday, the team is expected to visit Pathanamthitta where an infant died allegedly after pentavalent vaccination.
Sources said that though it was a routine meeting, the adverse effects of immunization reported from the state had caused serious concern, hence it was decided to collect the samples for further tests.
The samples of vaccine batches used for immunization in these 15 cases, including cases related to pentavalent administration, would be sent for tests to the laboratories in Chennai. The adverse effects of immunization were reviewed at a high-level meeting convened by the director of health service here. The meeting took stock of 15 cases, including the latest deaths of two infants in Thrissur allegedly due to pentavalent vaccination, that occurred in the state since 2011.
The meeting reviewed the forensic and pathological reports of all the 15 cases and learnt to have observed that there was no concrete evidence to prove that the vaccination led to the deaths or any severe allergic reactions.
The meeting, Adverse Effects After Immunization (AEFI), was attended by the representatives from World Health Organization (WHO), the Union health ministry and central drugs control department, apart from the heads of forensic and pathology departments.
The experts from WHO and Union health ministry are learnt to have decided to visit Thrissur where two infants died after being administered pentavalent vaccine. The team is expected to visit the hospital and the parents of the infants.
On Tuesday, the team is expected to visit Pathanamthitta where an infant died allegedly after pentavalent vaccination.
Sources said that though it was a routine meeting, the adverse effects of immunization reported from the state had caused serious concern, hence it was decided to collect the samples for further tests.
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