Ramadoss sends Central team to TN to inquire measles death

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) The Health Ministry today decided to send a Central expert team to inquire into the unfortunate death of four children attributed to the administration of measles vaccine in Tamil Nadu and directed states to stop use of measles vaccines manufactured by the Indian Immunological Limited.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss convened an emergency meeting of senior officials and decided to send the team of experts from Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Directorate General of Health Services and Drug Controller General of India had been deputed to visit Thiruvallur district where children died after vaccination.

The team would inquire about the incident including testing of the quality of vaccine, status of the cold chain, quality of diluents, distribution and administration of the vaccine including human error that had led to this adverse event following immunization (AEFI).

The expert team would also have discussions with officers of the Government of Tamil Nadu in this regard and submit the report at the earliest following which the government would initiate necessary action, official sources said.

The experts of the National Polio Surveillance Project (NPSP) of World Health Organization (WHO) have already been deputed to Tamil Nadu to assist the State Government officials in the investigation on cause of deaths.

The samples of the measles vaccine manufactured and supplied by Indian Immunological Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Diary Development Board, had been sent to Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli for quality testing.

All the State Governments have been instructed to stop use of the measles vaccine manufactured by Indian Immunological Limited until further orders. Orders have also been issued stopping further supply of measles vaccine from this manufacturer until further orders, the sources added.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Ministry namely Mr Naresh Dayal, Secretary, Health&Family Welfare, Dr R K Srivastava, Directorate General of Health Services, Dr Lalit Kant, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr Shiv Lal, Director, National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Dr Jyotsana Sokhey, Joint Drug Controller and Ms. Aradhana Johri, Joint Secretary.

UNI AJ JT HT2010