Measles Control Task Force Releases a Statement on Cases of Death during the Vaccination Campaign

The Measles Control Task Force of the Syrian interim government released a statement yesterday expressing “its deepest condolences to the families of children who died yesterday and wished for a speedy recovery for the rest of the injured children. We wholeheartedly regrets the loss of a number of our children. The symptoms of poisoning occurred within half an hour after receiving the injections, so there is no risk to the children who did not show symptoms immediately after being injected with the vaccine. The second round of the anti-measles campaign began on September 15 in the provinces of Deir Ezzor and Idlib where 60 centers were set up for this purpose. Approximately 15,000 children in Deir Ezzo, and 12,000 in Idlib were injected with the measles and rubella vaccines. Upon receiving the news of the first death we immediately instructed a halt to the immunization process. According to the Directorate of Health in Idlib, 15 deaths were recorded as a result of receiving the vaccine, while 50 cases were hospitalized.” The statement added that “the affected children showed symptoms that included diarrhea, shock and respiratory congestion. The vaccines given to children in the 60 centers of are the same vaccines for measles and rubella used all over the world, and they were all produced by the same manufacturer and tagged with the same batch number and are valid until January 2016. All the vaccines were stored in the ideal conditions at certain temperatures and were constantly monitored, while the Directorate of Health in Idlib checked the conditions of transport and storing. All the deaths and injuries took place in the town of Jarzinaz in rural Idlib.” The interim Ministry of Justice called on the Provisional Judicial Council “to form an independent committee equipped with all the legal and judicial powers to determine the circumstances of the incident and the real reasons leading to it and to take the necessary legal procedures to prosecute the perpetrators and preserve the rights of those who were affected. (Source: Syrian Interim Government)