Addressing concerns: Parents urged to immunise children against measles

Hangu DHO says schoolchildren fainted due to psychological stress of injection.

HANGU:

The acting district health officer (DHO) of Hangu has urged parents to actively take part in the measles vaccination drive to protect their children against the illness.

Addressing a news conference on Thursday, DHO Dr Azam Khan Wazir said measles can cause death and urged the people of Hangu to protect their children by immunising them on time. “The vaccine has no hazardous effects,” explained Wazir.

“The May 19 incident in which 23 schoolchildren in Thal tehsil fell unconscious after being administered measles vaccine was an unfortunate occurrence but was not caused by the vaccine,” maintained Wazir.

“Monday’s incident was the first of its kind and we have ensured that there is nothing wrong with the vaccine. Our vaccination staff is also experienced,” said Wazir.

According to the DHO, the children fainted due to the psychological stress of being administered an injection. “Reactions to the vaccine are incredibly rare and if they do occur, our health teams have the necessary medicines available to treat them,” said Wazir.

He added the district health office had immunised 40,000 children across Hangu in the ongoing vaccination drive. He added they also addressed the concerns of residents of union council (UC) Dalan – where the incident occurred – and will launch a measles immunisation drive in the area again.

On May 19, during a visit of a health team to Government Girls Primary School in UC Dalan, 23 students fainted after they were injected with the measles vaccine. The students were taken to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Thal and discharged after being administered first aid.

The incident had angered residents who took to the streets in protest.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2014.