AGARTALA, June 11 (TIWN): A 4 members’ team sent by the Union Ministry of Health and family Welfare in Tripura to probe the death of three minors after they were administered Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine. They would submit a report to the State Health Department on Thursday, said the official.Talking to TIWN on Wednesday State Programme Officer (Immunisation) M. S. Chowdhury said, “The central team arrived here in Tripura on Sunday and have been conduction their investigation at different parts of the state.” Adding, he said that the team would leave the state on Thursday if their investigation ends by Thursday.At present the team from centre is conducting investigation at Khowai District and Agartala, official said.He also said that the team is expected to submit the investigation report to the State Health and Family Welfare Department on June 11 prior leaving the state. The Union Ministry has sent this team here in Tripura to take the stock of the situation of the deaths of at least three children after they were administered with JE vaccination. A total of three children from three different districts died after being administered with anti-Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination, as per government official record. The team visited Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Tripura Medical College (TMC) to review the patients admitted there.

Besides, 18 children are undergoing treatment at AGMC and two of them are stated to be critical, said source.

Krittika was administered the vaccine on May 25 and she died in Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) from measles infection. Shoheli Debbarma (14) of Mandai died on May 31 at AMRI Hospital, Kolkata, after getting the shot on May 27.

However it is to be mentioned here that since after the deaths of three children were reported, a section of guardians and students refused to take the vaccination following which the vaccination programme has been stopped in some parts.On its first phase the nationwide JE vaccination programme started at Tripura West District and Sepahijala District.

It is to be mentioned here that, it is only Tripura from where the deaths were reported after the vaccination, allegedly due to the negligence of the doctors engaged to inject the vaccine.