Immunization drive stopped, probe ordered: CMO Tajamul Hussain
BUDGAM: A 47-days-old baby died within hours after immunization in Soibugh area of Central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Thursday.
It was the second death in 24 hours at the PHC after the immunization.
Family sources according to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the infant, identified as Naveen Kumar, died after he was given the immunisation vaccine at the PHC Soibugh.
“The baby was vaccinated at Soibugh PHC. He took the dose and within a few hours the baby developed a reaction, we shifted him immediately to GB Panth hospital, where he breathed his last,” family said.
Pertinently, this was the second death post-immunisation reported from the PHC since yesterday, earlier 45 days old baby Ziyan Ahmed Mir died after being vaccinated at the same Health Centre at Soibugh area of Budgam.
Medical Superintendent GB Panth hospital told KNO that yesterday the child was brought dead to the hospital.
About the death of another child, the Medical Superintendent said he is not aware of the case, thus can’t comment on the issue.
Chief Medical Officer Budgam Tajamul Hussain told KNO that both the children were vaccinated under immunisation and after the observational time they went home and one of the family came back to the hospital with their kid who had developed some problems.
“The doctors referred them to GB Panth hospital Srinagar where the child lost his life after the first line treatment,” Hussain said.
“Regarding another child he too received the vaccine for routine immunization but at home during the midnight after developing some problems, the family took the kid to GB Panth hospital where doctors received the child with cardiac arrest,” he said.
Hussain said they were not sure if the vaccine was directly linked with the baby’s death in any way.
“Baby could have an existing disease. We need to wait for final forensic reports,” he said. “We are yet to conduct a detailed verbal autopsy with the baby’s parents to understand their medical condition. “
Hussain said for now routine immunization drives have been stopped in the entire district for one week to check whether there is anything wrong with the vaccine.
“We are investigating the matter and regarding the death of the two children, a probe has been started,” he said.