Patient dies of allergic reaction after rabies vaccine

• The victim employed as a sanitary labourer at Pallekele  Geological Survey and Mines Bureau had been bitten by a dog, and he had  obtained treatment at Gampola Hospital

BY Suranga Rajanayaka   

A patient vaccinated against hydrophobia has died after being vaccinated at Gampola Base Hospital. Preliminary investigations  revealed that he had been vaccinated with Rabies Equine Antiserum  imported from India.   

The victim employed as a sanitary labourer at Pallekele  Geological Survey and Mines Bureau had been bitten by a dog, and he had  obtained treatment at Gampola Hospital.   

It transpired at the inquest held at the hospital by  Inquirer into Sudden Deaths Nalin Mediwaka that he had taken ill after being vaccinated and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Gampola Hospital,  where he died   

JMO Peradeniya Teaching Hospital Dr. R.P.Jayasuriya who  performed the postmortem examination, reported that the patient had  developed an allergy after vaccination that caused his death.   

Meanwhile Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug  Regulatory Authority Dr. Saveen Semage said the patient had died due to a  condition of allergic reaction which he developed after being vaccinated, and that  the vaccine would not be withdrawn from use.