On Saturday, a two-month-old infant vomited several times, became unconscious and died on way to a taluk hospital just aday after being administered pentavalent vaccine at an anganwadi centre in Belagavi, Karnataka. The family says that the baby was vaccinated by the nurse even though he was suffering from fever and the health authorities insisted that he was fine when was brought in.

Dr Om Prakash Patil R, director of the health and family welfare department, said there would be a thorough enquiry about this matter. As there were other infants also who were administered vaccine of the same batch and they all are fine. The cause of death cannot be ascertained till investigations are done. On Friday, 12 other infants were vaccinated at the same anganwadi centre.

Belagavi deputy commissioner SB Bommanahalli said a team has been sent to investigate the allegations and submit a preliminary report in a day. The vaccine also has been sent for quality tests.

The infant, born on November 17 last year, had received BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine soon after birth and was due for the 5-in-1 vaccine that is given when babies are a month-and-a-half old. While BCG is aimed at tuberculosis, the pentavalent vaccine, administered orally and by injection, targets diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B and Hib (a type of influenza).

The boys father is an Army man and is currently posted in Srinagar. His mother took him for vaccination to the anganwadi centre at Hunshyal (PG) in Gokak taluk. Siddappa Mayannavar, the boys uncle said that the baby was suffering from mild fever for the past six days and his mother was not aware of vaccination practices and hence took him. The nurse at the centre did not conduct a pre-checkup before giving the vaccine.

After the vaccination, Siddappa said that the fever intensified and the baby threw up several times. On Saturday afternoon, he fainted and the family rushed him to a nearby hospital which referred them to the Gokak taluk hospital. But the baby died on the way.

Rejecting negligence on their part, taluk health officer Raveendra said the infant was not suffering from fever and the babys low weight could have led to complications.

Anganwadi teacher Shakuntala Srikanth who was present at the vaccination initiative said the baby was fine when he was brought to the centre. The nurse had given the mother paracetamol tablets as fever is a normal symptom post-vaccination.

Reproductive and child health officer of the district I P Gadad told STOI that in preliminary enquiries on the phone, health staff told him the baby had been suffering from fever a few days ago. But when he was brought for vaccination, he looked fine.

Dr Patil, director of the health and family welfare department said that the baby suffered from fever. If the death was due to the vaccine, the drug reaction would have been seen immediately. They do not know whether the baby suffered from any other underlying health issues.

Earlier, in February 2018, a two-month-old baby boy died in Chinnagiri Diddi village, Mandya, a day after he was given the pentavalent vaccine. Also, in 2015, a pair of four-month-old twins died a day after they were administered the vaccine in Bengaluru.

Source: ET Healthworld