Needle breaks off in man’s arm during vax, causes complications
KANPUR: Indresh Ahirwar, 24, was vaccinated in such a way that the needle broke off in the process and remained stuck in the flesh on his arm.
After nine days, he was operated upon in the district hospital in Lalitpur to take out the broken needle. But he ended up with his hand and leg completely numb. He has been referred to Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Medical College in Jhansi for further treatment.
Chief medical superintendent Lalitpur Dr Rajendra Prasad said Ahirwar’s family had not shifted him to Jhansi despite request.
Vaccination officer Dr Hussain Khan said the issue was serious and an inquiry was underway. The community health centre (CHC) had written to the CMS about this case, seeking an inquiry by a panel of experts. The person who was responsible would not be spared, he said.
Indresh had taken the vaccine at a camp held in a school in his village Banauni on September 9. The next day he went down with high fever and blisters emerged around the place where the vaccine was administered.
As he writhed in unbearable pain, his family took him to a local doctor on September 11, said his father Rakesh Ahirwar. When the treatment did not work, he reached the chief medical officer’s office and explained his condition.
He was admitted to the district hospital but his pain did not alleviate and blisters spread nearly all over the arm. Doctor Pawan Sood who was treating him said the hand was X-rayed which showed that a part of the needle was inside the flesh.
The doctors performed surgery on September 18 at the district hospital to remove the needle. His family said Indresh was relieved of the pain after the surgery but struggles with a new problem: his right hand and leg became numb. He was tthen referred to Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Medical College in Jhansi for further treatment.