40 students hospitalised after vaccination in Knp
KANPUR: More than 40 children from three schools in Kanpur developed rashes, fever, headache and abdominal pain after they were administered measles, rubella vaccine on Thursday as part of a statewide vaccination programme.
All the children were taken to the LLR hospital where a team of doctors examined them. About 20 students were discharged within two hours of admission, the doctors said adding, others were kept under observation till late noon. The children were vaccinated at two branches of Sanatan Dharma Girls School, Kaushalpuri Sharda Vidyaniketan, Yashoda Nagar and Raghupati Mishra public school on Thursday. The LLR hospital received 42 children from these schools.
Dr Yashwant Rao, head of paediatrics department, said the vaccine, which prevents measles and rubella, was completely safe. There could have been some issues after the vaccine was administered but the parents should not worry.
He said the children panicked following vaccination and that there was a need to counsel them. Two days back, about 20 children were hospitalised in neighbouring Unnao after they were given vaccine at the St Peters School causing uproar
› There is absolutely no reason to worry, doctors did not find any medical condition in any of the children during the observation
VIJAY VISHWAS PANT, DM
among parents who demanded withdrawal of the campaign.
Chief medical officer GK Mishra said the children were immediately given symptomatic treatment and allowed to go home with their parents. The health department has formed rapid response teams, which would make the people aware and act with extra promptness.
District magistrate Vijay Vishwas Pant said such symptoms were common after vaccination.
The vaccines were perfectly safe and over two million children had received MR vaccines across the country. “There is absolutely no reason to worry, doctors did not find any medical condition in any of the children during the observation,” he said.
In Kanpur about 1.9 million children between nine months and 15 years are to be covered under the ongoing vaccination plan.