17-Year-Old Girl Loses Eyesight After Getting COVID-19 Vaccine, Family Alleges

A 17-year-old girl's family in India claimed she lost her eyesight after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

The teenager, who lived in the town of Ranipet in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, was administered the vaccine on Jan. 4. She reportedly fell ill the next day, following which she was admitted to a local hospital. She subsequently lost her vision, The New Indian Express reported.

Deputy Director of Health Services of Ranipet, Dr V Manimaran, said he has reported the case to the panel probing Adverse Events Following Immunization.

“There are district, state, and national level committees with access to relevant data and they will investigate the matter,” Dr Manimaran said when contacted.

Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan said an investigation was underway into the incident.

“I have been running around with my daughter from one hospital to another, Sholingur to Ranipet and from Vellore to Chennai for her treatment. We have been assured that the treatment will be covered under the Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme of the Chief Minister but nothing has happened so far," the girl’s mother told IANS, according to Telangana Today.

The woman added the hospital diagnosed the disease as connective tissue disorder, and the doctors have not assured the family that the girl will regain her lost eyesight.

Those between 15-18 age group are eligible for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

Noted virologist Dr T. Jacob John told local media the vaccine may not have led to the condition, but could have triggered symptoms of a pre-existing disorder.

“Such a disorder cannot develop in one day and investigations must look for evidence of pre-existing pathology. A clear understanding of the sequence is necessary to prevent such events in other susceptible persons,” he reportedly said.

Meanwhile, Dr Sujit Somasundrama, a virologist with a Government Medical College in the state's capital city of Chennai, also reiterated the same thoughts as Dr John.

"Such a disorder cannot develop in one day and investigations must look for evidence of existing pathological conditions. This can be useful in future vaccination programmes," Somasundrama reportedly said.

Another girl from the same school was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome (a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves) 20 days after she was inoculated. Dr John said the syndrome was known to occur as a very rare reaction to many vaccines, and was treatable.

India's Union Health Ministry data reported Thursday a single day rise of 4,184 COVID-19 infections, while the active cases dipped to 44,488. The active cases comprise 0.10 percent of the total infections.