While the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination for children is going on in Sundargarh district, parents are panicked about the side effects of the vaccination drive in the wake of as many as 43 students of a school of the district having become ill after being administered vaccination in the school.
A 12-year-old girl of Jharsuguda district reportedly fell ill after the vaccination and subsequently died. A 14-year-old girl student of Sundargarh is reportedly critical after the vaccination and was referred to the VSS hospital, Burla on Wednesday.
In its initial phase, the vaccination is being undertaken in all schools to cover children between the age group of nine months and 15 years. About 5,49,000 students will be given vaccination in Sundargarh district. The vaccination drive started on January 29. According to sources, at the Nirmala Girls’ High School in Sabdega block of the district, the drive was done recently; and after the vaccination, 43 students of the school fell ill and were admitted in the Sabdega Community Health Centre (CHC); and after being provided treatment, the students were discharged.
Similarly, three girls of the Basanti Nodal High school, Rourkela, became sick after taking the vaccination and were admitted to the Rourkela Government Hospital.
After the vaccination, children complain of headache, fever and vomiting. A girl student of Class-V, Anju Kisan, a resident of Pipilimal of Belpahar in Jharsuguda district, reportedly died vaccination.
A girl of Class-VIII, identified as Suchita Bhainsal, of Sabdega block of Sundargarh district’s Poda Jalanga High School, who was administered vaccination on February 5, reportedly fell ill in the school. She was rushed to the Sundargarh District Headquarters Hospital. On Wednesday evening, she was discharged from the hospital; but on Thursday morning, her health again became critical and was taken to the Sundargarh DHH. Later, she was referred to the VSS hospital, Burla for better treatment. She is now getting treatment at the VSS.
“We have received some complaints about MR vaccination. We are now regularly reviewing the effects of vaccination of the children.” said Dr Shashnk Choudhury, Additional District Public Health Officer of Family Welfare, Sundargarh.