Medical error likely cause of baby deaths in Samoa – vaccinologist



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There is a high probability of medical error to blame for the death of two infants in Samoa after their MMR vaccination, according to a vaccinologist and a senior lecturer.
Photo: 123RF

One year old children died at the beginning of the month, minutes after receiving the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

Helen Petousis-Harris, of the University of Auckland, three things that killed people after receiving vaccines.

  Helen Petousis-Harris

Helen Petousis-Harris
Photo: The University of Auckland

Babies in Samoa did not have an allergic anaphylactic reaction . It is unlikely that the vaccine was contaminated by staying too long at room temperature, says Dr. Petousis-Harris.

This meant that the third most likely cause was that the vaccine had been poorly prepared by the medical staff. 19659006] "Looking at how the fact that the deaths occurred really leaves only a real possibility, namely that we use something other than water in the vaccine, but what happens is happening now, that's what's happening. "

The Director of Protection, Regulation and Insurance at the New Zealand Department of Health, Stewart Jessamine, said that vaccines received by Samoa were of high quality, evaluated and approved by the World Health Organization and distributed by the authorities.United Nations Children's Agency UNICEF

  Dr. Stewart Jessamine, Minister of Health responds to questions about petition to reform Medicinal Cannabis Access Bill

Dr. Stewart Jessamine from Ministry of Health responds to petition to reform petition law on access to medicinal cannabis.
Photo: VNP / Phil Smith

The same batch of vaccines has been used safely across the Pacific, the Caribbean and South America, he said

"So, c & Is watching something that happened. Samoa uses a five-dose vial and we understand that both children received the dose of one vial, "said Dr. Jessamine

Lemalo Hermann Retzlaff, general counsel of Samoa, said the police were investigating on bringing criminal charges against the medical personnel involved

  Samoa Attorney General Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff

Samoa Attorney General Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff
Photo: twitter

"The investigation of the police is about to review the evidence that has been collected and we have asked New Zealand for help for the tests and we will continue our investigations "Samoa police were waiting for the results of the laboratory tests carried out in New Zealand, "he said.

In the meantime, all vaccines have been administered. "I want to say that the tragedy for these two children is that it has brought us to the point where it has become a public safety issue for all of our children and we are currently in a situation where it is There is no "So we take this very seriously, it is a priority for us in the law enforcement and government."

 ] Taratiteiti Kirition holding his 1-year -old daughter Pepeeti while a nurse gives her a vaccination in a clinic in Kiribati

Taratiteiti Kirition holding her 1-year-old daughter Pepeeti while a nurse gives her a vaccination in a clinic in Kiribati [19659002] Photo: UNICEF [19659010] RNZ Pacific's correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Autagavaia Tipi, said the parents were worried about the safety of their children because they could not vaccinate them right now.

"People are now ready to know the results of the investigation.If the loss of babies was a tragedy, it was important that vaccinations resume in order to prevent deaths from measles," says Dr. Jessamine

the only protection was vaccination, he said.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the deaths was postponed until next month.

L & # 39 investigation was postponed until overseas analysis of the post-death He added that the results had been completed, said Mr. Lemalu.

Police were also waiting for the results in order to decide whether to lay criminal charges heard in the capital Apia.

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