54-day-old infant dies after vaccination in Jalpaiguri, sparks more fears over fake medicine scandal

A 54-day-old infant died on Thursday after receiving three consecutive vaccine injections at a block health center in Jalpaiguri’s Kranti Block. The family claimed the child collapsed in the mother’s arms soon after the vaccination. The incident sparked outrage, with locals staging protests at Kranti Mor near Lataguri. A government transport bus was vandalized during the demonstration. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of death or any potential medical lapse.

On Friday, CPI(M)’s youth wing DYFI state secretary Meenakshi Mukherjee visited the grieving family in Maulali village. After speaking with them, she raised concerns over the state’s healthcare system, citing the growing fake medicine crisis and inadequate infrastructure in rural health centers. "Despite the active presence of counterfeit drug networks, the government remains indifferent," Mukherjee alleged. She also pointed out that despite the formation of a new block in Kranti, sub-health centers still lack proper facilities.

The child’s death has intensified concerns over vaccine safety and medical negligence in the state. While no official confirmation links the incident to counterfeit drugs, the tragedy has fueled demands for a thorough investigation. Locals have urged authorities to ensure proper vaccine quality checks and improved medical supervision in government health facilities.