Furore erupted in a private school in Sagar of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday after a complaint that about 30-40 kids were vaccinated against COVID-19 using the same syringe. According to protocol, single-use syringes are to be used for vaccination drives.
Following an inquiry by the district chief medical and health officer (CMHO), an FIR was registered against the accused vaccinator Jitendra Ahirwar, an ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife) with the health department. Also, a departmental probe was recommended against district immunisation officer Dr. Rakesh Roshan, as the vaccination drive was being conducted under his overall supervision.
The incident was reported from Jain Public School in Sagar town. Parents who were present during the vaccination drive conducted by the state government found that the vaccinator was using the same syringe (needle) to vaccinate multiple kids. Soon more parents reached the school and furore erupted as they claimed that about 40 kids had been vaccinated with the same syringe and it might lead to health complications for them.
The vaccinator accepted before some local media that he had vaccinated about 30 kids with the same needle and claimed that he was given only a single syringe for the purpose of vaccination, though he could not name the senior officials.
As the matter escalated, in-charge district collector Kshitij Singhal ordered an immediate probe by the CMHO, given the serious nature of the complaint.
A government release said that the CMHO inspected the vaccination centre and spoke to the people present there, who complained again about vaccination with the same syringe. However, by then, the vaccinator had gone away from the centre. The CMHO found that the material required for vaccination had been sent out to the centre at the direction of the district immunisation officer.
The CMHO found that the vaccinator Ahirwar indeed had used a single syringe to vaccinate multiple students, which was grave negligence. When the officer tried to contact Ahirwar over phone, his mobile phone was found switched off, the government release said.
Following this, based on the findings of the CMHO, the district health department lodged an FIR against Ahirwar at the Gopalganj police station in Sagar, accusing him of negligence in the work related to vaccination mega drive.
