HC orders probe into rabies vaccine administered instead of measles

The High Court has ordered an investigation into the incident where a child was given a rabies vaccine instead of a measles shot at the Bhuanpur Upazila Health Complex in Tangail. The court has instructed authorities to submit a probe report within 30 days and ensure proper medical treatment for the child without delay.

The HC bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order on Thursday, May 14, after hearing a public interest writ petition filed by Barrister Humayun Kabir Pallab on behalf of the Law and Life Foundation Trust.

The court also issued a rule asking why the child's family should not be paid Tk 50 lakh in compensation. Authorities have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks .

On Wednesday, May 13, a mother named Mou Khatun took her one-month-and-five-day-old child Fatiha to the vaccination centre at Bhuanpur Upazila Health Complex. Health Inspector Mohammad Kayum, who was on duty, administered two doses of rabies vaccine instead of the measles shot. The child's condition deteriorated shortly after, causing panic among other parents present at the hospital .

It has been alleged that Kayum was continuing to run the vaccination programme at the hospital even after his retirement. The regular assistant health inspector, Nurul Islam, was absent from the hospital that day .

Kayum has claimed the incident was an unintentional mistake . Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Lutfor Rahman Azad admitted that Kayum was brought in to run the vaccination programme despite being retired .

The child's family has alleged that Kayum and Nurul Islam misbehaved with them when they protested.