The High Court has ordered an inquiry into an incident where a one-month-old child was given a rabies vaccine instead of a measles vaccine at the Bhuanapur Health Complex in Tangail.
The court directed that an inquiry be conducted and a report submitted within 30 days. The government was also ordered to ensure proper medical treatment for the child without delay.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order along with a rule on Thursday, following a hearing on a writ petition filed in the public interest.
The rule asks why the child’s family should not be paid Tk50 lakh in compensation. A response has been sought within four weeks.
The writ was filed by the Law and Life Foundation Trust. According to news reports, Mou Khatun from Chabbisha village took her one-month-and-five-day-old child Fatiha to the health complex’s vaccination centre on Wednesday to receive a measles shot, as measles outbreaks have been increasing across the country.
Instead, Health Inspector Mohammad Kayum, who was on duty, administered two doses of Rabix rabies vaccine to the infant.
Health Inspector Mohammad Kayum acknowledged the mistake, saying the rabies vaccine was given instead of the measles vaccine by accident.
“It was an unintentional error,” he said.
The court has yet to receive the inquiry report. Further developments are awaited.
