Rubella measle death scare in UBTH, State government denies report

By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – THERE was a scare at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) on Monday over the death of an infant allegedly linked to his taking of a dose of the Rubella measles vaccine which is currently being administered to children below 14 years old.

Vanguard gathered that some children were admitted into the UBTH after taking the vaccine and it was alleged that some deaths were recorded.

“Rubella measles vaccine killing children at UBTH”, a family friend alleged and claimed that he witnessed three deaths.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the UBTH, Osaretin Iyen said he was not aware of any such development but promised to investigate.

The Director of Public Health, Edo State Ministry of Health Stephenson Ojeifo when contacted denied the allegation saying he was personally at the teaching hospital for investigation when the attention of the ministry was drawn to it.

According to him, “The issue of death as a result of the vaccine is not true. The patients came in there after taking the vaccine and some of them have already been discharged.

“One thing we need to get clear is that you take a vaccine, yes and you now came to hospital does not mean that we should conclude that it was th vaccine that caused it that is why we always investigating.

“In this case, of all of them that came, only one is on admission now and he is 14 years and he is very okay. He was even discussing with me. We just want to be sure that they go and scan to be sure that there are no issues related to it So that is the only one on admission.

“”Then the one that died, he was inoculated with the vaccine but you can’t say that he died because of the vaccine, he was a sickle cell patient and he has always been coming down with crisis. So that information that people are dying of the vaccine is not true. I met with the DCMAC, I met with the Head Paediatric so there is nothing like that.”

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