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News
Vaccine withdrawn pending probe into child’s death
BY NADINE WILSON Observer staff reporter wilsonn@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, June 18, 2011
THE vaccine which was given to an infant prior to his suspicious death in Mocho, Clarendon this week has been withdrawn from health clinics across the island, pending further investigation.
The one-year-old child was given the vaccine at a health clinic in the parish the day before he was found dead by family members, but Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Environment Dr Karen Lewis-Bell, believes only a post-mortem could show the real cause of death.
"In the morning the child had visited the health centre and received a vaccine, so we have no evidence to say that it is the vaccine that has caused the death of this child," said Dr Lewis-Bell, who declined to name the vaccine.
"However, under normal circumstances, if such a situation happens we have to do a thorough investigation. Part of our investigation involves putting a hold on the use of that vaccine while we continue our investigations and get some information as to the cause of death," she told the Observer yesterday.
"We have to be very careful that we don't make certain assumptions without us having any proofs and so I don't want to discredit our immunisation programme or any of the vaccines without any proof," she said.
The Ministry of Health has since launched an investigation into the child's death and is now awaiting the result of a post-mortem. All the other children who were given the same vital vaccine at the Clarendon-based health centre have since been checked and have all been found to be in good health.
In the meantime, Dr Lewis-Bell is hoping that the recent incident will not have a negative impact on the country's immunisation programme which is just now improving.
"Our immunisation coverage have been slowly improving; it is not where we want it to be, and yes, we do have persons who are not compliant with getting their children vaccinated," Dr Lewis-Bell said.
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6/18/2011
Might have nothing to do with the vaccine. There are numerous cases of Sudden infant death syndrome. Why jump to conclusion that it was the vaccine that cause the death.
6/18/2011
The child may have had an allergic reaction to the vaccine...
6/18/2011
People who are not in compliance are lucky to avoid those poisons.
My friend's son was fine until he got vaccinated and now he is autistic. Blank in his eyes.All for money i.e. Health "Care" not Cure.
Informed parents should not be punished for protecting their child.
This will not be published. I know.
6/18/2011
Heartbreaking for this mother, may God grant you the strength to overcome. In 2000 I also took my baby to the clinic where she was given the pertusis vaccine, days later I noted while breast feeding a blue tint on her forehead when she coughed. Later she was diagnosed with pertusis, spend months in the children hospital.
Really think the government should educate people that there is a possibility that some babies will react to some vaccine!!!!
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