Class 5 student dies due to ‘wrong vaccine’ in Odisha school

Rourkela: Indicating serious lapses in the vaccination programme of the Odisha Government, a 10-year-old boy died after being administered with a wrong injection by an ASHA worker in a school here yesterday.

However, a complaint has been lodged at Sector- 7 police station by family members of the deceased identified as Sumanjit Pradhan. Sumanjit was studying in Class 5 at Mahima Sisu Vidya Mandir in Sector 6 here.

Reportedly,  a TD (Tetanus and Diphtheria) vaccination programme was undertaken at various schools here yesterday. ASHA workers were engaged for vaccination of children aged between 10 and 16 years. Among other children, Sumanjit was also administered the injection.

Soon after, when he was returning to his house, Sumanjit complained of dizziness. When his condition worsened, his family members rushed him to Ispat General Hospital (IGH). However, he succumbed on the way to hospital. Following his death, family members and locals created a ruckus at the IGH demanding an inquiry into the incident and compensation. Later, IGH authorities called up police.

Sumanjit’s father Sukant lodged a complaint at Sector-7 police station and demanded Rs 15 lakh compensation, besides a proper probe into the incident.