4 infants die after being given measles shots in TN

TRAGEDY STRIKES: The parents of the infants have paid an inconsolable price for the administration's mistake.

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Keywords: Tamil Nadu, Babies

Thiruvallur: Four 10-month-old infants died at two primary health centres in Tamil Nadu, immediately after receiving a measles vaccine. While Chief Minister Karunanidhi has admitted that the government is responsible for the tragedy, the Central government has asked all states to suspend the use of the vaccine.

40-year-old Arputham is the mother of one of the victims, Nandini. Nandini was Arputham's first child who she and her husband thought was a delayed gift from god as she came to them more than 20 years after marriage. But now a routine measles shot is the cause for their great loss.

Arputham says, "She came to us after 20 years and now we have lost her forever."

Mother of another victim, Oliya Rani says, "She was playing very well and she was a very beautiful girl, just after the shot she fainted and died.

The union government procured the vaccines from a Hyderabad based institute and puzzled by the tragic turn of events the samples have now been sent for testing.

The government’s also suspended the use of the particular batch of vaccine. Officials say the vaccine has been administered to thousands of children who have not been affected. So now they are probing into what really caused the deaths.

Health Minister Tamil Nadu, MRK Paneerselvam says, "The incident is very tragic. We are now checking whether it was the vaccine or was it the distilled water that was used along with it."

But none of it matters for the four families who have lost their children. They have paid an inconsolable and tragic price for the administration's mistake.