Vaccine-related kids' deaths trebled

The number of children dying due to immunization-related complications has more than tripled after the government closed down three public sector vaccine labs in January 2008.The government has no clue about the causes while children continue to die, the latest being that of five infants in Gujarat on Wednesday. Details given by the Union ministry of health and family welfare in reply to an RTI query filed by Dr K V Babu of Payyanur show that 111 children died in 2008 due to "adverse effect after immunization (AEFI)". The AEFI is a general term that covers various reasons, including bad vaccine quality due to break in cold chain, contamination and complications due to pre-existing conditions of the child.In 2009, the latest year for which the ministry has given details, 116 children died due to AEFI. In contrast, 32 children lost their lives to AEFI in 2007. The government closed down its three labs — Central Research Institute in Kasauli, BCG Laboratory in Chennai and Pasteur Institute of India in Coonoor — in January 2008, citing the non-compliance of good manufacturing practices. To make up for the demand of 75 lakh vaccines doses of six kinds needed for its universal immunization programme, the government has been procuring them from a private firm.The ministry has not found anything amiss."In a country where 25 million children are born every year, it won't be proper to jump into conclusions. We are following the protocol of investigations," health secretary K Chandramouli told TOI.Experts don't think so. "India is not following the Brighton Collaboration criteria, adopted by WHO to deal with AEFI deaths," said Jacob M Puliyel, head of paediatrics at Delhi's St Stephen's Hospital. The WHO protocol says that an AEFI death should be considered 'certain/very likely' if it occurs immediately after vaccination and if no other disease or drug is found as reason. "Here, we just test the vaccine and say there is nothing wrong," said Dr Puliyel. Child health and immunization deputy commissioner Ajay Khera said, "About 20 lakh children under 5 die every year. This converts to approximately 5,000 deaths every day, and a few deaths after immunization cannot be linked to the vaccine.An RTI query filed in Payyanur shows that 111 children died in 2008The government closed down its three labs — Central Research Institute in Kasauli, BCG Laboratory in Chennai and Pasteur Institute of India in Coonoor — in January 2008, citing the non-compliance of good manufacturing practicesTo make up for the demand of 75 lakh vaccines doses of six kinds needed for its universal immunization programme, the government has been procuring them from a private firm.

Source:TNN.

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