Samples sent to MRI to ascertain death of four-month old infant

• Death caused after administration of vaccine

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

The samples of the four-month old baby girl who died after the administration of the Pentavalent vaccine have been sent to the Medical Research Institute (MRI) for further investigation, according to health officials.    

  Speaking to Daily Mirror, Kuliyapitiya Teaching Hospital Director Dr. Prabhath Werawatte said the baby had been administered with the Pentavalent vaccine on Saturday (15) from the MOH office and she had developed complications at night the same day.   

“Subsequently, the parents have brought her to the Kuliyapitiya Hospital. However, the baby died on admission,” Dr. Werawatte said.   

When asked about the cause of death, the Hospital Director said the body was sent to the Kurunegala Hospital where the postmortem was conducted to determine the cause.   

“However since the cause of death could not be ascertained in the postmortem, the samples of the body have been sent to the MRI,” he reiterated.   

The Pentavalent vaccine provides protection to a child from five life-threatening diseases – Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Hib.