Rubella vaccination death:

Errant officers to be charged under Penal Code?

Chaminda PERERA

Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva yesterday said the Health Ministry is seeking the possibility of charging the officers who are responsible for the death of Peshala Hansani of St. Thomas’ College Matara following Rubella vaccination, under the Penal Code.

The Minister said all investigation reports including the WHO vaccination experts findings would be forwarded to the Attorney General for his advice to explore the possibility of punishing them under the Penal Code.

He said the Ministry will initiate disciplinary inquiry against these officers and those found guilty would be severely punished under the Establishment Code and no one is allowed to put the people’s lives at risk.

The Health Ministry yesterday found that Peshala Hansani of S. Thomas’ College Matara had been vaccinated by the Medical team attached to the Matara MOH office in spite of mother’s plea that the child is allergic to vaccines.

Deputy Director General of Public Health Services Dr. Palitha Mahipala who headed a high profile medical team tasked to investigate into the death of Peshala yesterday said the medical team has totally neglected the letter by the Child’s mother which was affixed with the Student’s vaccination card.

The mother in her letter to the Medical Officer has said her child was allergic to vaccines and had shown abnormal breathing pattern after she was vaccinated. She has pleaded the Medical Officer to pay special attention to her child and decide whether she should be vaccinated or not.

“This medical team comprising a registered Medical Officer and PHIs attached to the Matara MOH Office has vaccinated 350 students of the school and Peshala has shown abnormal breathing pattern and has been taken to the Hospital in a three-wheeler.

The doctors in the hospital has given emergency treatment and later she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where specialist doctors were assigned to monitor her complications,” he said.

Dr. Mahipala said the death was due to the shock associated with the complications after she was vaccinated against Rubella and the other students who were later admitted to the hospital have not developed complications in the aftermath of Rubella vaccination.

“The medical team has fully adhered to the Ministry guidelines in the provision of Rubella vaccination and we see no problem with regard to the way the vaccine was given to the students,” he said.

Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage said he has sent a Deputy Director General to further investigate into this matter and stern action would be taken against the errant officers.

He said the WHO vaccination experts have already initiated their investigations and their report is expected by next Friday. “The WHO team will look into all aspects of the Rubella vaccination program and pinpoint who is responsible for this mishap.

He said the Ministry has vaccinated over 250,000 people against Rubella and no major complications other than mild fever and cough were reported from any part of the country.

A special evaluation committee comprising the health sector experts is evaluating the suitability of a vaccines before it is imported to Sri Lanka and the particular company which provided 7 out of 10 vaccines to the National Immunization program since 1996 have complied with WHO standards.

These vaccines are imported from the companies which have secured the Pre Qualified WHO Supplier standards. This consignment of vaccines which is to expire in November has been certified by the Food and Drug Authority, Medical Research Institute and experts in the Epidemiological department of the Ministry.

The Rubella vaccination program was introduced in 1996 on the recommendation of National Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases considering the impact of disease on the children.