Medical Team Rules Out Vaccine Link in Thull Girl’s Death

Photo Via (Website) –  UNICEF

A six-member medical team investigating the death of a young girl in Thull has concluded that her demise was not connected to her recent inoculation, despite claims made by her family.

According to health officials, the team conducted a thorough examination, including medical history, clinical records, and post-mortem analysis, before ruling out any link between the vaccine and the child’s death. The inquiry was launched after the girl’s family alleged that she had died shortly after receiving an immunization shot, sparking fear and concern in the local community.

The report indicated that the girl, alternatively identified as Sumaira/Sumaya by her family, was administered the HPV vaccine on Sept 20. She was first taken to different quacks, and then brought to the THQ Hospital Thull on Sept 28.

According to the hospital’s medical superintendent, who examined the girl, she had a fever and would not let anyone touch her. Subsequently, she was referred to a tertiary care hospital in Sukkur.

The team also obtained the girl’s medical record from the Sukkur Institute of Child Health, where she was diagnosed with enteric fever. She passed away the next day, but according to her family, they did not receive a positive response to requests for an autopsy.

On the other hand, officials claimed they asked the family to approach the district magistrate to order an autopsy, but the family did not comply.

The investigation team visited the girl’s family and the district pediatrician also checked other vaccinated girls in the locality who, according to the family, had been experiencing symptoms such as fever and shortness of breath.

They were taken to the Jacobabad Institute of Medical Sciences (JIMS), where doctors ruled their symptoms to be anxiety-related. It was also found that the girls had not eaten for two days, and all four were discharged after being treated for their symptoms.

The team also checked the vaccine’s batch number, expiry date, and cold chain maintenance system, and found that everything was properly maintained.