CHD, under the Department of Health Services (DoHS), said the team will carry out a field study on Friday. The team, comprising experts from World Health Organization (WHO), has already left for Doti. [break]
“The team will submit its report after making a field study,” said Dr Tara Pokharel, chief of CHD. He said the team would possibly submit its report by Sunday next week.
Four infants had died within 24 hours of being administered measles and DPT vaccines in a remote VDC of the district. Anju BK, of Pokhari VDC-9, Milan Damai, of Kadamandau VDC-6, Sujita Nepali and Gauri Chiral, of Kadamandau VDC-7 who were vaccinated at Kadamandau sub health post on Sunday, died on Monday. All the infants were below the age of one.
The District Public Health Office (DPHO) Doti also confirmed that the infants died after being administered the vaccines. But CHD has still been continuing the vaccination campaign. “We have not halted the vaccination campaign,” said a CHD official.
The Logistic Management Division (LMD) which supplies and procures vaccines and other drugs said it would not comment on the issue until the team submits its report. “After we hand over the vaccines to DPHO, it is their responsibility to store them under proper conditions and temperature,” said Chief of LMD Dr Naresh Pratap KC.
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