RIMS panel report admits immunisation error in Garhwa kids’ deaths

Despite the Health Department’s claims that all the desired mechanisms were in place before the immunisation drive at Loinga village of Patan in Palamu leading to unfortunate deaths of four children, a probe team formed by RIMS has put a question mark on the process stating the cause as ‘immunization error related reaction’.

The report prepared and presented by the team of four doctors after conducting ‘Adverse Event Following Immunization’ (AEFI) to the RIMS Director has concluded that there were chances of lacunas in vaccination drive conducted in the village.

“From the initial investigation, it seems that the events are due to immunization error related reaction (a type of AEFI),” it says while leaving the final conclusion to the autopsy report and visceral analysis which, “will be able to establish it more precisely by inclusion or by exclusion,” says the report accessed by The Pioneer. The report has been forwarded to Director Health Services on April 17 for ‘initiating appropriate action’.

The team comprising Dr Rajiv Mishra of pediatrics, Dr Lakhan Manjee of Pharmacology, Dr Sanjay Kumar of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology and Dr Dewesh Kumar of PMS of the RIMS was formed after a Government order following the death outbreaks taken place on April 7-8 rocking the entire State and had put a question mark over universal immunization drive continuing.

The report, while making it clear that none of the four children died after the vaccination had any symptoms of any ailment before vaccination states that neither they were on any drug nor they were ingested any food item from common source. Also there was not any disease outbreak reported from this village during this session.

“From the epidemiological point of view all the four children died had common exposure of measles vaccine and vitamin A and the symptoms preceding death developed in these children within 6-8 hours of vaccination. From the course of events following immunization in these children, the possibility of contamination of measles vaccine or vitamin A solution given to the children leading to Toxic Shock Syndrome like feature during reconstitution of vaccine or administering it without observing aseptic procedures cannot be ruled out,” read the findings.     

Also, the investigation at the same time also defended the act of ANM Droupadi Pandey who was immediately put on suspension by the Department after the incident came into light. The team found that the ANM that had done vaccination in two hamlets—Loinga II and Asnor-- on April 7 and 8, was also involved into the drive taken place at Loinga I on April 5.

“It is noteworthy fact that she has been involved in immunization activities for more than 25 years but no any complaints have been noted in the past and the villagers were satisfied with the care and response during vaccination,” reported the team of doctors before throwing some suggestions and recommendations to be followed in future. Vaccination for measles, Japanese Encephalitis, DPT and tetanus was done at the village, claimed that all the doses were administered from the vial provided.

Director Health Services Dr Sumant Mishra could not be reached for his comments who had maintained that the all the desired machineries were in place and would remain so in future as well. Also reports of all the seized vaccine vials and syringes sent to CDL Kasauli and CDL Kolkata for further examination are still awaited.