As reported in the “Hindustan Times”
25 August 2010
While the officials were mulling over what may have caused the death of four kids during immunisation in Lucknow, the vaccination drive continued in other parts of the state and two more infants died after being vaccinated in Allahabad and Fatehpur. Though use of BCG vaccine has been put on hold in Lucknow, health officials in 71 other districts in the state have not been informed about any halt to the vaccine use.
Officials from Varanasi have sent a letter to the DG (family welfare) asking whether or not to use the BCG vaccine but by the time the reply is sent, lots of kids will have been immunised by the vaccine. Officials of other districts have had no communication with the State headquarters.
Pradip Shukla, Principal Secretary, health and family welfare, said the State would take a decision on vaccine usage once the report of the state probe team arrived. The inquiry committee had been asked to deliver the report at the earliest, he said.
Dr GK Malik, heading the State probe committee, said the report would be delivered on Tuesday or Wednesday.
In Allahabad and Fatehpur, two infants died within 48 hours of being administered DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) and polio vaccine. One girl died on Monday morning, while the other had died on August 21.
The health authorities, however, claimed that the babies died of neonatal disorder and health complications common in kids up to five years of age. As per report, Archana (2) daughter of Mannegar of Bhagautipur village in Dhanupur block died this morning.
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