Another Infant Dies after Vaccination

MYSORE
Yet another infant, who was administered the pentavalent vaccine died here late on Monday. The relatives and villagers of two-month-old Namratha alleged that the child had died owing to side-effects of the vaccination.
However, the Department of Health and Family Welfare officials said the girl had pneumonia and died owing to negligence by her parents. The deceased, the daughter of Santhosh and Hema of Hadli near Malavalli, was administered a dose of pentavalent vaccine under a mass immunisation drive on Thursday. However, she was admitted to Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) here on Sunday following symptoms of pneumonia.
According to Hanumanth Prasad, Medical Superintendent of MIMS, the vaccine is not linked to the death. K. Mohan, District Health Officer, echoed the same and said the death was not related to the vaccine. The child’s parents, submitted in writing to MIMS authorities, opposed the post-mortem and took the body with them.
It may be noted that two infant deaths were reported in Chinnagiri Doddi recently and these were being attributed to the administering of pentavalent vaccine.