The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on June 1, 2017 that 15 children in the village of Nachodokopele, South Sudan died following receiving the live attenuated virus measles vaccine. The WHO attributed the deaths to “severe sepsis/toxicity resulting from the administration of a contaminated vaccine.”1
The deceased children, all under five years of age, had exhibited symptoms of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Reportedly, another 32 children suffered the same symptoms but eventually recovered. The children were among a group of about 300 children who had been vaccinated during May 2-5 as part of the government’s measles vaccination campaign, according to South Sudan’s Minister of Health Riek Gai Kok.1 2
According to Minister Kok, “The team that vaccinated the children in this tragic event were neither qualified nor trained for the immunisation.” He added:
A single reconstitution syringe was used for multiple vaccine vials for the entire four days of the campaign instead of being discarded after single use. The reuse of the reconstitution syringe causes it to become contaminated which in turn contaminates the measles vaccine vials and infects the vaccinated children.3
South Sudanese health officials receive training from the WHO on how to store and administer vaccines and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is responsible for providing the vaccines.4 UNICEF is a leading buyer and supplier of vaccines in the world. In 2016, the agency purchased 2.5 billion doses of vaccines for 95 countries at a cost of $1.643 billion.5 6
Following an investigation into the deaths of the children by the South Sudan’s National Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Committee, supported by WHO and UNICEF personnel, it was concluded that the “vaccination team did not adhere to the WHO-approved immunization safety standards.”1
References:
1 Press Release. Statement regarding findings of joint investigation of 15 deaths of children in Nachodokopele village, Kapoeta East County in South Sudan. World Health Organization June 1, 2017.
2 Botched anti-measles campaign kills 15 children in South Sudan. Reuters June 2, 2017.
3 AFP. ‘Tragic’ measles vaccine blunders kill 15 children in South Sudan. The Guardian June 2, 2017.
4 Lunch J, Mednick S (AP). South Sudan: 15 children die in botched vaccine campaign. ABC News June 2, 2017.
5 United Nations Children’s Fund. A global leader in vaccine supply. UNICEF.org.
6 UNICEF. Vaccines Supply and Market Overview. UNICEF.org.
4 Responses
Untrained? Did they not shake the vials? Heavy adjuvants like aluminum and mercury sink to the bottom of the vial over time and clump up. If the vial is not shaken before use the child who gets the last shot from the vial will get a huge dose of adjuvants.
This is sickening. Beyond my paranoid first thoughts such as population control, I wonder if someone was keen to re-sell a bunch of unused syringes on the black market…
There are less than 1.9 billion children under 15 years of age in the world and that number has peaked and is now declining. And the U.N. buys 2.5 billion vaccines? And the companies producing vaccines are given immunity from liability for damages done by their vaccines? This is BIG business. Who is receiving this $1.6 billion dollars mandated by the countries who produce the vaccines, their corporate supporters and the U.N? Follow the $$$$:
https://www.gapminder.org/news/world-peak-number-of-children-is-now/
Untrained? Like the clerks in pharmacies that give flu vaccines to the public?