Infant dies after administration of vaccine; investigation underway

By Norman Palihawadane

A four-month-old infant died on Sunday after being given a vaccine at the MoH office the previous day.  The deceased has been identified as Niwsadi Senanayake of Ihala Gogamuwa, Kuliyapitiya.

The infant’s father Harshana Pradeep Senanayake has lodged a complaint at the Kuliyapitiya police saying that his child’s death was suspicious. He has said that Niwsadi was given a vaccine by a nurse at the Hettipola MoH office on Saturday. As the child’s condition worsened the parents took her to the Kuliyapitiya hospital on Sunday, but she was pronounced dead on admission.

Kuliyapitiya HQI Bandara Wijesuriya said that a JMO inquiry had been conducted and some parts of the infant’s body would be sent to the Peradeniya and Colombo research laboratories for further investigations.The cause of death had not yet been established, but in accordance with an open verdict given by the JMO, further investigations were in progress, the HQI said.

Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday told the media that he had appointed a five-member committee to conduct a full investigation into the recent deaths in government hospitals.Rambukwella said that the committee headed by Prof. Chandima Jeewandara of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, comprised experts.