Nghe An Department of Health informs about the case of two twin girls who died unexpectedly after vaccination

According to the report of Nghe An Department of Health, on October 9, the pregnant woman Nguyen Thi Hong Th. (31 years old, Nghia Hong commune, Nghia Dan), gave birth to twins by cesarean section at the Northwest Regional General Hospital. The two girls, one weighed 3.3 kg, the other 3.1 kg. The pregnant woman had a normal obstetric history.

Nghe An Northwest Regional General Hospital serves the medical examination and treatment needs of people in districts and towns in the Northwest region of the province. Photo: PV

Both babies cried immediately after birth and were able to breastfeed... After screening, at 8am on October 11, both babies were assigned to receive hepatitis B vaccine by the manufacturer, Vaccine and Biological Products Company No. 1. Production date April 26, 2018. The vaccine was said to be preserved according to the correct procedure.

But more than 4 hours later, the first baby vomited milk, suddenly had respiratory failure, turned cyanotic, and had difficulty breathing. Doctors had to clear the airway, pump out some milk, provide oxygen support, and transfer the baby to the Pediatric Emergency Department. Entering the neonatal unit, the baby was in a state of weak, shallow breathing, had apnea, was cyanotic, had flaccid muscle tone, had a body temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, had no pulse, had an irregular heartbeat, had poor ventilation in both lungs, had a distended abdomen, and had no visible bowel rotation. Here, doctors performed respiratory and circulatory tests.

At this time, doctors diagnosed the baby with neonatal respiratory failure of unknown cause, not excluding milk aspiration or congenital metabolic disorder/after the 5th hour of hepatitis B vaccination. The baby later died at 2:45 p.m. on October 11 at the Northwest Regional General Hospital.

Also injected at 8am on October 11, at 4:45pm the same day, the other patient also suddenly had hiccups, turned purple, had pale skin, was lethargic, and had slow newborn reflexes. Doctors diagnosed neonatal respiratory failure of unknown cause.

The patient was transferred to Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital at 11:55 p.m. the same day in a state of being pumped with oxygen through an endotracheal tube, with bruises on the left thigh and left ankle, irregular heartbeat, soft abdomen, pale yellow skin with purple veins...

Due to the severe prognosis, threatening death, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital planned to transfer the child to the Central Children's Hospital. However, while transferring the patient by car, the child's condition worsened, with a suspected left pneumothorax, so the transfer was stopped. At 1:00 p.m. on October 12, the child died. The consultation conclusion of Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital was respiratory failure, circulatory failure/hypoglycemia, and metabolic disorders were monitored.

Nghe An Northwest Regional General Hospital said that the hospital did not have enough basis to conclude the cause of the serious developments leading to the deaths of the two children.

According to a report from the Northwest Nghe An Regional General Hospital, on October 11, 18 children there were vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine from the same batch. Currently, 16 children have no unusual symptoms.