Parents blame MR vaccine for 11-year-old’s death in Thoothukudi

The girl identified as Kamatchi, studying in Class 5, was admitted at Thoothukudi GH recently for severe and continuous fever. During her admission, her parents claimed that MR vaccine was responsible for her fever. However, hospital officials claimed that the child had symptoms of dengue. 

Kamatchi condition worsened and she died without responding to treatment on Tuesday morning. Muthu, Thoothukudi District Secretary, DYFI, said that Kamatchi’s mother Ramalakshmi had initially refused permission to administer MR vaccine to her daughter but based on her neighbour’s suggestion she relented and the child was vaccinated on March 20.

Kamatchi started suffering from fever the very next day. As the fever did not subside, she was admitted to the Thoothukudi GH on March 28. Though she was treated at a separate ward, she died. “Right from the beginning there were serious doubts raised about MR vaccine and now a child has died. Action should be taken against the paramedics who had administered the vaccine and compensation should be provided to the family,” demanded Muthu. 

However, a senior official at Thoothukudi GH claimed that right from the day of admission, Kamatchi showed signs of dengue and hence she was treated at a separate ward. However, her health worsened and she later died. The official also rejected the allegations made by the parents and claimed that MR vaccine had no role in Kamatchi’s death.