Centre orders probe into anti measles vaccine mishap

The Central Government has asked to put on hold the further immunization after four infants died on Wednesday in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu where they were administered anti-measles vaccine.

The other states including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Assam, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have also been instructed not to use the vaccine, allegedly the same batch of vaccine were sent to these states also.

The vaccine were manufactured by Human Biological Institute, Hyderabad in its routine immunisation programme and the 45 lakh doses of the measles vaccine made by the institute has been suspended till the inquiry into its effectiveness and safety is completed. But till then the centre has asked to use stockpile of vaccine supplied by Serum institute.

However the authorities of Indian Immunological Limited (IIL), the vaccine maker whose subsidiary branch HBI has manufactured the vaccine claimed that the vaccine have been verified by the Central Research Institute (CRI) Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh. Moreover, it’s like a duty to get the vaccine cleared by CRI before sending it for immunisation as claimed by IIL.

Ramadoss, in a meeting on Thursday with the officials from the health ministry, DGHS, DCGI, NICD and ICMR, said, “The vaccines were tested before they were released to states. So we aren't sure if the vaccine caused the deaths because the same batch was administered to other children. However, if found contaminated, we will waste no time in suspending further orders. We allowed HBI to supply us with the vaccine because it was a PSU.”

Though the state agency are investigating the matter with the assistance of experts of the National Polio Surveillance Project of the World Health Organisation, a central team comprising members from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Institute of Communicable Diseases(NICD) and Directorate-General of Health Services(DGHS) and Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) will also visit the place to inquire the detail including the vaccine, its handling , the diluents and possible human errors.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday announced a solatium of Rs.300, 000 each to the four families who lost their infants and suspended those related to the administration of vaccine.

After the state government claimed that the vaccines of same batch have been earlier administered to thousands of children but other than Tiruvallur so far no such adverse report has come. There might be possibility that vaccine might have got contaminated due to negligence.

The sample of vaccine batch which were given to the infants have been sent to CRI for test, while post mortem reports of the infants are awaited which will possibly help figuring out where the mistake lies.