2 min readChandigarhApr 28, 2015 03:13 AM IST
First published on: Apr 28, 2015 at 03:13 AM IST
Kin showing the photo of the deceased infant. (Source: Express Photo by Jaipal Singh)
Two days after a death was reported allegedly after the administration of pentavalent vaccine, the UT Drug Controller has stopped the sale of particular batch of pentavac and has sent the samples to the Central Research Institute, Kasauli, for examination.
The single shot of pentavalent vaccine provides protection to children from five life-threatening diseases: diphtheria (upper respiratory tract illness), pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus (DPT), hepatitis B and hib (haemophilus influenza type B).
Hundreds of infants are administered the vaccine in city hospitals. However, a few instances of deaths reported after the intake of vaccine have time and again sparked off debates about its safety.
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On April 23, a two-and-a-half-month-old baby was administered pentavalent vaccine in the Advanced Paediatric Centre (APC) of PGI. Few hours later, the baby’s condition started deteriorating and two days later, the baby died at GMSH-16.
The father of the infant said, “My child was healthy before he was taken to the hospital for vaccination. Few hours after we returned from the hospital, his condition deteriorated. He died two days after being given the vaccination. I do not know what went wrong, but I lost my child.”
In May 2013, a similar case of an infant’s death after administration of pentavalent vaccine was reported in PGI. However, then the vaccine samples were given clearance by the CRI.
The father purchased the five-in-one vaccine from the Baby Care Chemists located in the APC. The UT drug controller raided the shop and sealed the stock of the pentavac PFS vaccine. The sale of the particular batch of the pentavac vaccine has been banned in the city until next orders.
Sunil Chaudhary, an official with the UT drug controller’s office, said, “A total of 646 vials of pentavac PFS vaccine were supplied to the city, out of which 117 vials are still unsold and have been sealed. Samples were sent today to CRI for examination.”
Kin showing the photo of the deceased infant. (Source: Express Photo by Jaipal Singh)
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