Killer measles vaccine on hold
Thursday, April 24, 2008 (Chennai)
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080047740
The measles vaccination programme may be suspended
across the country. Tamil Nadu has already taken this drastic step after the
death of four babies in Thiruvallur on Wednesday.
Ninety lakh measles vaccines procured from Indian Immunological Ltd in Hyderabad
have been withdrawn by the Health Ministry.
''The batch is being recalled,'' said Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Health Minister.
Health Ministry has said that vaccines were a trial order from the private,
Hyderabad-based company and States that have been supplied by the company were
warned.
The Union Health Ministry has rushed two experts and the vaccine has been sent
for testing. The official report will take two days but it seems there was some
toxin in it.
There are also reports that the medical camps did not have any provisions for
emergencies.
The Centre had no choice, 45 lakh doses have already been sent to various
states. Of that 20 lakh doses went to Tamil Nadu alone.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu put on hold measles immunisation programme and suspended two
nurses after four babies died soon after getting vaccinated for measles.
Sources told NDTV that doctors have concluded that the four children died
because of the vaccines.
''Anbumani Ramadoss has told me that the government of India is stopping the
measles vaccine programme across the country. Tamil Nadu has already suspended
the immunization programme throughout the state,'' said M R K Paneerselvam,
Health Minister, Tamil Nadu.
In Tamil Nadu a mother, Arputhamaal, who was blessed with a girl baby twenty
years after her marriage, lost her child to the killer vaccine. The
ten-month-old died on Wednesday soon after she was administered measles vaccine,
in the Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.
Three other babies too lost their lives after vaccination at their neighbourhood
government health centre.
Arputhamaal was inconsolable and visibly shaken after she lost her child.
''I had not taken my daughter to the hospital even once after the birth. And the
first time she was taken she died, said Arputhamaal, a mother.
Another mother recounts the horror she faced at the immunization centre.
''She died at the centre itself soon after the vaccine. Froth started coming out
of her nose instantly,'' said Suganthy.
The state government has ordered a probe. According to the health officials, the
vaccine was supplied by the Central government-owned Human Biological Institute
in Hyderabad.
There's a pal of gloom along with simmering tension in the area.
While the government has announced a compensation of Rs three lakh to families,
there is no consolation for those who have lost their innocent children.
Ironically, Tamil Nadu is in the forefront of the vaccination movement in the
country. The state has successfully eradicated polio and several other diseases.
In January 2008, Tamil Nadu became the first state chosen for implementing the
Hepatitis-B vaccination programme.