16-Month-Old Child Dies 3 Days After Receiving Immunity Vaccines For Toddlers

A 16-month-old child in India died three days after being administered regular immunization vaccines meant for toddlers.

A medical officer said Wednesday the incident took place in the tribal-dominated Palghar district of the western state of Maharashtra. Authorities said, while the parents alleged negligence in the case, an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the child's death.

The viscera of the toddler has been sent to the JJ Hospital in the city of Mumbai for examination, medical officer Dr. Bhausaheb Chattar said, according to One India.

"We can comment on the cause of his death only after we receive the report from the JJ Hospital which might take ten more days," he said.

The boy was administered DPT, which is a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans -- diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus; MMR, which is a vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella, and PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine) Booster, which is given at 12-13 months of age, on Feb. 9.

"He apparently developed complications and died on Saturday (Feb. 12)," the medical officer said.

The medical officer also said senior officials have been informed about the incident. Four children from the village were also administered the regular immunization vaccines on Feb. 9, but none of them developed any medical complications, Enavabharat reported [Google Translate showed].

However, the family members of the victim alleged the infant died due to faulty administering of the vaccine.

Last week, a 3-month-old child allegedly died after he was administered the BCG vaccine, which is given to children to prevent tuberculosis. The incident took place near the city of Patna, located in the country's eastern state of Bihar. The child was given the vaccine at an Anganwadi – a type of rural child care center in the country. After receiving the vaccine, the child’s health deteriorated, and he was declared dead at a sub-divisional hospital. Family members blamed the center where the child was given the vaccine. “At least 10 infants were given BCG vaccine at the Anganwadi center. The nine other kids have not developed any complications,” Dr. Abha Kumari, deputy superintendent of SDH-Paliganj, told local media at the time.