AGARTALA, June 6 (TIWN): At least three children have died this month in Tripura after being vaccinated against Japanese Encephalitis here in Tripura. Along with the entire nation Tripura Left front govt. has kicked off the nationwide vaccination programme from May 23.

However but due to the negligence role of a section of grass root level health workers who also has a tendency to call themselves ‘doctors’ has killed at least three school children. The incident has triggered a panic among the guardians who now worry to take their children for the vaccination.

What made the growth story much more interesting is that despite the death of two children reported state health secretary M Nagaraju managed to call a press conference and clarify the issue. But, failed to clarify the questions of media persons who remained present during the conference.

State health secretary M Nagaraju said though the apparent cause of death of the kids is clinically claimed to be different, all of them have history of JE vaccination. They were admitted to hospitals with complaints of fever and convulsion, he added.

Later another child identified as Shoheli Debbarma (14) of Mandai breathes here last after being pushed with JE vaccination. She was admitted to AMRI Hospital, Kolkata after the concerned doctors here have failed to cure her complications.

According to the clinical reports Krittika Das (10) of Kenamia in the Kamalasagar area died due of measles and not JE vaccine. Similarly, Ariful Ishlam Maishan (12) of Srimantapur village in Sonamura died due to multi-organ dysfunction syndrome.

According to the sources, the Tripura government has requested the Union ministry of health and family welfare to send an expert team to investigate the death of three school children after they were administered Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination in West Tripura.

Two weeks ago, JE vaccination drive was launched in West Tripura, Sepahijala and Khowai districts of Tripura as part of a nationwide pilot program, targeting children between 1-15 years. So far, 20,7,986 children of 1-15 yrs have been vaccinated in Tripura, said Nagaraju.

However, the departmental committee has been asked to submit the inquiry report within a week with full details of the vaccination programme in the respective areas and verification of the complaints.