Two children die, others admitted after vaccination in Elgeyo Marakwet

ITEN: Two children were Tuesday confirmed dead and six other are under observation after a vaccination exercise went awry in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

The deceased both aged nine months old died moments after they were injected with the measles vaccine.

According to a local government official who sought anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the press, the eight were injected with measles vaccine and immediately two of the children developed serious complications.

"They started vomiting, became weak and died after a few minutes in neighbouring homes, in Kapchesek village," said the local government official.

The eight from Kapchesek and Kobil villages, were among tens of children who had been lined up for the outreach immunization programme that was set to visit homes across Ketut location in Marakwet sub county.

Marakwet East MP Kangongo Bowen put the number of the affected and admitted at 10 and raised fears that more others could have been given the jab and still in the villages.

"So far two children have lost their lives and ten are admitted in critical condition in Chesongoch mission Hospital while others are still in the villages," said Bowen

The exercise was immediately called off after the deaths as the affected children were frantically rushed to the nearby Chesongoch Sub county health Centre under serious condition after receiving the treatment.

Reports from the area indicate that two medics from Kabetwa health centre went to the village had been assigned the routine immunization.

Local Health executive Thomas Ruto while absolving the medics from medical negligence said the unfortunate was as a result of the vaccines. According to CEC, the health officers had gone out for the routine immunization where they working with the community Kabetwa Health centre in Marakwet East.

He explained that the two children had not received Immunization against measles and therefore needed to be attended to.

"They received the normal 0.5mililitre of the immunization with the normal syringe but they started reacting soon after, two of them died," said Ruto.

Ruto explained a lady and a man from Kabetwa health centre, in a mobile clinic went to and administered a combination polio and measles vaccine. But when given combination they reacted by exhibiting pain.

"That they had suspended measles immunization until their analysis have been ascertained, the vaccines will be taken for government chemist for analysis," said Ruto.

He however dismissed claims that six are admitted in hospital with serious condition but instead only one had been admitted.

Area governor Alex Tolgos sent heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected terming the incident unfortunate and highly regrettable.

Tolgos said he had ordered a cessation of all measles immunization exercises in the County and dispatched a medical team comprising the CEC Health, County Pharmacist, Director Public Health, Marakwet East Medical Officer and support health staff to the area to ascertain what could have gone wrong.

"We take the health of our citizens as a top priority and continuously takes all precaution to safeguard the administration of vaccines and other forms of treatment, all vaccines used by the County are sourced from Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) which is a State Corporation under the Ministry of Health," said Tolgos.

Tolgos said investigations that have already commenced would seek to establish whether the problem was with the vaccines or the mode of administration. He called on the Ministry and Kemsa to join the investigations.

"A comprehensive report will be issued once we get to the bottom of what happened. For now, we join the families of those affected by this tragedy in mourning the deceased," he added.

Bowen sent his condolences to the families of the bereaved families and accused the doctors for professional negligence and also the county government for neglecting the health sector.

"We grieve with the families of the affected by the unprofessional who lost their children following an unprofessional vaccination exercise in my constituency," said Bowen.

The MP said that it was high time the health function was reverted to the national government since the counties had clearly demonstrated that they did not have capacity to handle it.

"Recently we saw children who got paralysed in Busia county after vaccination, now deaths in Elgeyo Marakwet county after the same vaccination , we do not want further casualties in other areas, these are more than enough evidence that county government are not up to the standards of health function and this function must be reverted to National Government," stated Bowen.

In mid-July 18 a near similar incident occurred at Akichelesit Dispensary in Teso North sub-county in Busia County

Of the total number, 13 children had paralysis of the right lower limb, while five children had paralysis of the left lower limb. Two of the children had foot drop.