Sudanese Health Ministry Admits Child Deaths Caused by Measles Vaccine Preparation Error

The Sudanese Ministry of Health stated that investigations into the deaths of children after receiving a measles vaccine in Khartoum concluded that the incident was due to an error in preparing the dose, announcing that measures have been taken to hold those responsible accountable.

In a statement, the ministry explained that the technical committee and the immunization program launched an investigation immediately after receiving reports of the children’s deaths, which determined that the incident was limited to the vaccination center at Al-Ban Jadid Hospital and was caused by a mistake in vaccine preparation procedures.

The ministry clarified that the investigation results showed the error involved storing the vaccines in the hospital refrigerator, which was not designated for vaccines, making them prone to being mixed with other medicines.

It further revealed that measures have been taken to hold accountable those responsible for the deaths of the three children and to enforce strict safety standards to prevent such incidents in the future.

The Ministry of Health affirmed that vaccines used in Sudan are safe and effective, in accordance with World Health Organization standards.