Post date: Dec 25, 2013 11:19:25 AM
China-Vaccine/Death
China Central Television (CCTV) - A newborn died on Monday morning in southwest China's Sichuan Province following hepatitis B vaccination, bringing the number of suspected vaccine-related deaths to eight in the country.
The baby died at about 07:55 on Monday at a hospital in Meishan City after receiving a hepatitis B vaccination on Sunday afternoon, according to a statement from the Dongpo district health bureau on Tuesday.The infant's parents found the baby's face had turned blue at about 07:25 on Monday. The newborn died 30 minutes later after emergency treatment failed, according to the statement.
The baby was born at about 17:00 on Saturday and was in normal condition. The baby received a hepatitis B vaccination at about 16:00 on Sunday, the statement quoted the child's parents as saying.
The vaccine was manufactured by Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Co., Ltd., a major supplier of free hepatitis B vaccine, according to the bureau.
The cause of the death can only be confirmed after autopsy, according to the bureau.
According to the hospital, the death of the infant was possibly caused by suffocation or congenital diseases. They didn't rule out the possibility that the death is related to the hepatitis B vaccination.
"The attitude of our hospital is that we will not dodge our responsibilities. If the hospital has some responsibilities in dealing with the accident, we can tell the infant's parents that we will take complete responsibility," said Hong Linyi, deputy director of the Zhongtie Hospital in Meishan City.
To date, eight infants have died following hepatitis B vaccination since November, including four in south China's Guangdong Province, two in central China's Hunan Province and two in Sichuan Province, according to Chinese health authorities.
The seven other infants received hepatitis B vaccines made by Biokangtai,a Shenzhendrug manufacturer.
A circular on Friday issued by China's top health, drug and food administration authority ordered suspension of Biokangtai vaccine.
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