There was panic at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) following the death of an infant allegedly linked to the ongoing measles-rubella vaccination for children under 14.
Reports indicated that some children were rushed to the hospital shortly after receiving the vaccine, with claims circulating that multiple deaths had occurred.
A family friend of one of the affected children alleged that the vaccine was responsible for the deaths, claiming to have witnessed three fatalities.
However, the Public Relations Officer of UBTH, Osaretin Iyen, said he was unaware of any deaths resulting from the vaccination but assured that the matter would be investigated.
Reacting to the development, the Director of Public Health at the Edo State Ministry of Health, Stephenson Ojeifo, dismissed the claims linking the vaccine to any fatalities.
Ojeifo said he visited the hospital after the ministry became aware of the reports.
“The issue of death as a result of the vaccine is not true. The patients came in after taking the vaccine, and some of them have already been discharged,” he stated.
He cautioned against drawing conclusions, emphasizing that hospital admission after vaccination does not automatically imply causation.
“You take a vaccine and then come to the hospital does not mean the vaccine caused it. That is why we investigate,” he said.
According to him, only one patient, a 14-year-old, remains on admission and is in stable condition.
“He is very okay and was discussing with me. We just want to conduct further checks to ensure there are no related issues. That is the only one on admission,” Ojeifo added.
Addressing the reported death, he explained that the deceased child had sickle cell disease with a history of recurrent health crises.
“He was inoculated with the vaccine, but you cannot say he died because of it. He was a sickle cell patient who had always been coming down with crises. The information that people are dying from the vaccine is not true,” he said.
Ojeifo added that he met with relevant medical officials, including the Head of Paediatrics, and found no evidence linking the vaccine to any deaths.
Health authorities have urged residents to remain calm while investigations continue.
