Student dies after MR Immunization in Jharsuguda

Bhubaneswar: Concerns are now being raised over the mass immunization drive following the death of a girl student days after she was administered with Measles -Rubella (MR) vaccine at Lakhanpur in Jharsuguda district on Tuesday.

The deceased student Anju Kissan of Banjari Advasi Residential School was administered vaccine on January 29.

The family members alleged that though they had asked the school authorities not to vaccinate Anju, their request was not heeded.

As a result, Anju fell sick and died while undergoing treatment on February 4, family sources said.

"We had told the school authorities not to administer the vaccine but they did not listen to us. Later, I was informed that my daughter fell sick and we brought her and admitted her to the hospital," said Dani Kisan, father of the deceased girl.

Not only Jharsuguda, incidents of children falling sick after vaccination have also been reported from Balasore, Bhadrak and other parts of the State after Odisha government launched the drive in January.

Several parents have questioned whether the children actually need this MR vaccination and whether it is safe after reports of sickness and death.

While the officials of the Public Health Department refuted the allegation of death due to immunization, an inquiry has been ordered and a special team has been sent to Lakhanpur.

" Usually children panic during immunization and in a few cases some develop fever," said Director of Public Health department, Gyanindra Tripathy.

Health officials further stated that out of the total 188  students of Banjari Sevashram in Lakhanpur block, 183 students were administered with MR vaccine on January 29.

182 students have not complained of any illness after the immunization drive. However, the deceased girl fell sick on February 3 and oral rehydration powder was also provided by health workers, senior officials claimed.

As many as 50,54,624 children have been immunized under the MR vaccination drive that was launched in January this year. The State government has set a target to cover 1.13 crore children under the campaign.