South Sudan: Children Die After Being Vaccinated

In South Sudan, it is a tragedy: fifteen children died after receiving a measles-contaminated vaccine. The doses had, in fact, become toxic after several mistakes in storage and handling. It is a survey conducted by a South Sudanese health committee with the help of experts from WHO and UNICEF

who revealed the tragedy after a vaccination campaign in early May In a remote area of the Kapoeta region in south-eastern South Sudan. How could these vaccines become toxic and cause the death of children?

One and the same syringe used to mix the vaccine with a diluent is one of many serious errors committed during this vaccination campaign in early May 2017. Reusing the same syringe for four days to make this mixture eventually contaminated The vials containing measles vaccines, in turn infecting the vaccinated children.

Vomiting, Fever, and Diarrhea

Another mistake was that the vaccines had not been kept in the cold so they could be contaminated. Finally, 12-year-olds were apparently among the agents in charge of the vaccination campaign. Fifteen children died as a result of this toxic vaccination and 32 others suffered from vomiting, fever, and diarrhea, but fortunately survived. In total, 300 people were vaccinated against measles during this campaign.

The country is fighting a measles epidemic

Crucial vaccinations, while since the beginning of the year, South Sudan has been fighting a measles epidemic. Seventy children have already died of this infantile disease.