Death of child in Fatehabad not due to polio drops

Chandigarh, Feb 12 (UNI) The Haryana Health Department has clarified that the death of an infant after administration of polio drops in Fatehabad on Sunday last was a coincidence.

" The child did not die due to polio vaccine as the vaccine is fully safe and has no side effects of any kind even if administered to seriously ill children' an official spokesman here today said while contradicting a report in a section of the media.

The spokesman said that the eight month old infant was born pre-mature, had been suffering from severe pneumonia for the last two weeks and was under treatment from a private practitioner. The death of the infant, after administration of polio drops, was just a coincidence.

He, therefore, appealed to the people not to have any misconception about the safety of polio vaccine as a result of this incidence.

He said that the second National Immunization Day of the year for polio eradication was being observed on February 10, the day when the incident occurred. Under this programme, every child between the age of 0-5 years has to be given two drops of polio vaccine irrespective of his illness status or pre-existing illness, if any, as per the guidelines issued by the of Union Government.

The parents were aware of the condition of the child and even after the death of the child they were convinced that their child died due to pre-existing severe pneumonia and not due to administration of polio drops.

UNI HS BP1848