Two children die after vaccination in Bihar
2008 Dec
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200812301516.htm
Patna (IANS): Two children, including an infant, died after being administered
vaccines in a Bihar village, health officials and parents said on Tuesday.
A 20-day-old boy died on Monday, a day after he was administered DPT and BCG
vaccines in Kamrauli village of Darbhanga district, about 200 km from Patna.
"My child died a day after he was administered vaccines by health volunteers,"
the boy's unconsolable mother Neetu Devi said. She said that she took the
newborn for vaccination after being persuaded by an immunisation campaign, but
it cost his life.
A two-year-old boy in the same village also died after he was administered the
vaccines.
His mother Lalita Devi said: "He was healthy before vaccines. But he developed a
high fever and showed sign of weakness before he died."
The parents are demanding action against the health officials.
Villagers alleged that health volunteers used infected syringes for the
vaccines.
Reports said several children have fallen ill in the village and neighbouring
areas in Darbhanga district after vaccines.
"There was nothing wrong with the vaccines but we will investigate the matter,"
Darbhanga civil surgeon Lakhinder Prasad said.
Prasad said a team of medical officer will probe the deaths.
Every year, over 25 million children are born in India. An infant needs to be
given these vaccines in the first nine months.