Two children died yesterday allegedly after being administered with a dose of the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine in Jhenaidah and Gazipur.
The deceased were identified as Afroza, 12, of Sreepur upazila in Gazipur, and Ariful Islam, 11, of Harinakundu upazila in Jhenaidah.
Following the allegation, the government formed four probe bodies, one in Gazipur and three in Jhenaidah, to investigate into the deaths.
Afroza, a sixth grader of Protappur High School and a resident of Mendipur village under Prahladpur union of Sreepur upazila, lost consciousness hours after being administered with an MR dose. She was rushed to Gazipur Sadar Hospital, where doctor declared her dead.
When asked, Gazipur Civil Surgeon Dr Shah Alam Sharif said: “There is no risk to one’s life from the measles-rubella vaccine. I have heard the child had respiratory and heart complications. But, the reason behind the death has not yet been confirmed.”
A probe committee, led by Gazipur Civil Surgeon Dr Shah Alam Sharif, has been formed to investigate the death. The committee also includes Gazipur Medical College professor Dr Subash Chandra, Sreepur Health Complex Family Planning Officer Dr Hasan Imam and Epidemiology Technician Amzad Hossain as members.
Apart from that, a team with international-expertise on vaccination had been sent to the area from Dhaka following the incident, our Gazipur correspondent added.
Ariful Islam, a sixth grader of Bhaina Secondary School and a resident of Kalisankarpur village under Harinakundu upazila, became seriously ill hours after being administered with a MR dose at his school at round noon. He was rushed to Harinakundu upazila health complex, where he died at around 4pm.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Rabiul Islam said Ariful was suffering from asthma for a long time. But, the reason behind the death was yet been confirmed.
However, family sources claimed Arif was physically fit when the dose was given to him.
Sources in Jhenaidah civil surgeon’s office have confirmed that the health ministry, the district civil surgeon’s office and the upazila health complex authority had formed three separate probe committees to investigate the matter.
Two of the probe committees will be led by Upazila Health Complex's resident medical officer and pediatric specialist Dr Anwarul Islam, while the other, as per the ministry’s directives, will be led by district civil surgeon Dr Nasrin Sultana, our Jhinaidah correspondent added.
The committees were told to submit report within 3 working days.
When contacted, Dr Nasrin Sultana said the reason behind the child’s death is yet to be confirmed, adding that there is no such record of a death caused by MR vaccines.
“A proper investigation into the incident might help detect the cause of the death,” she added.
