Infant’s death: tests on,so post-mortem report held back

Dhrushti Pingle was administered second dose of oral pulse polio drops along with Hepatitis B vaccine and DPT (Diphtheria,Pertussis and Tetanus) vaccine on Saturday morning at a health post in Shivaji Nagar in Bhandup. On Saturday night,her nose started bleeding and she was rushed to Triveni Hospital.

However,the baby was referred to Rajawadi Hospital where she died at 11 on Sunday morning. In the panchnama,the victim’s family has alleged that the death was caused to due to negligence of the medical officer and staff on duty.

“Prima facia it looks like hypersensitivity reaction. In the last three years,at least eight cases of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) have been reported” said a source at Sion hospital.

“Death can occur if a baby is allergic to vaccine or if the vaccine is not administered in the right way or stored in the right manner. If it is not stored in right manner,bacteria growth in the vaccine leads to toxic shock syndrome. But it is too early to conclude anything without proper investigation as such cases are very rare,” said Dr Nilima Kshirsagar,head of department clinical pharmacology department.

Meanwhile,Dr Mangla Gomare,immunization in charge Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC),submitted first information report to Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) committee who will review the causality of the death.