Murky circumstances: Two children reportedly die from measles vaccine

Four hospitalised, EPI official in Tank claims children already had measles.

DI KHAN:

Two children died while four others fell unconscious and were admitted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Tank after reportedly receiving measles vaccinations. The children belong to Kuroo Khan village of the district.

A measles vaccination campaign was launched in Tank city and surrounding areas from May 19 during which children of Kuroo Khan village were also vaccinated around four days ago. On Wednesday, six children identified as Saifullah, Eida Gull, Arsalan, Muhammad Umar, Noor Islam and Safia Bibi fell seriously ill.

Of the six, two passed away before reaching the hospital while the rest were hospitalised and are undergoing treatment. The identities of those killed could not be ascertained.

Shah Behram, a family member of one of the victims, alleged the children were in good health and fell sick after receiving the measles vaccine, adding those who vaccinated the children are responsible for their deaths.

Meanwhile, a local official of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), Dr Mansoor, said the children had been suffering from measles and fell seriously ill owing to lack of adequate health facilities in the village. He said the children are not being affected due to the vaccination.

In Tank city and its surrounding areas, the spread of measles is rampant as children are being brought to the DHQ Hospital every day for treatment, he said.

On June 1, two children, both aged four, reportedly died in Charsadda after receiving the measles vaccine.

Local sources had revealed that the two children were vaccinated on May 30 and then admitted to a hospital after they fainted.

EPI in charge in Charsadda, Dr Farhad, had denied that the deaths were caused due to the vaccinations, saying the children had already been suffering from severe fever.

Earlier, two more children died in Shabqadar, Charsadda after reportedly having an adverse reaction to the measles vaccine while three children were reported dead in Peshawar for similar reasons.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2014.