3-Month-Old Baby Dies After Receiving BCG Vaccine, Family Alleges Negligence

A three-month-old child has allegedly died in India 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 – on Friday. The center was located at Balipankad village in Paliganj, The Times of India reported. 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.

Local media reports said that the child’s health condition deteriorated immediately after receiving the jab. A local nurse informed senior doctors about the incident. The family members first consulted a local health practitioner and then took the child to Paliganj SDH.

Following the child’s death, Dr. Abha Kumari, deputy superintendent of SDH-Paliganj, told local media that they have formed a team of two doctors of the hospital to investigate the incident. The two doctors are members of the World Health Organization and Care India, local media reports said, citing Kumari.

“At least 10 infants were given BCG vaccine at the Anganwadi center. The nine other kids have not developed any complications,” Kumari said, according to The Times of India. She added that the vaccine administered to the child had not expired.

"It seems the child was suffering from other health issues. We have begun an investigation into the incident,” she said.

An autopsy report could confirm the exact cause of the death of the child, News 18 reported [Google Translate].

According to the University of Michigan Health, the BCG vaccine helps your body develop immunity to tuberculosis, but will not treat an active infection you already have.

Last month in India, three toddlers died soon after receiving the measles-rubella (MR) shot during a vaccination drive. A preliminary investigation revealed negligence on the part of a health worker caused the tragedy. The victims had been identified as 13-month-old Pavitra Hulagur, 14-month-old Umesh Kuragundi and 16-month-old Chetan Pujari. The three children lived in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

“This is the first time in five years that we have had such adverse reactions to the vaccination process,” S.V. Muniyal, District Health and Family Welfare Officer, said at the time.