Society

Tunisia-Scandalous – An overly concentrated vaccine injected into minors: Parents file a complaint

Lawyer and human rights defender Chawki Tabib, one of the contestants for the position of Tunisian Prime Minister gestures as he speaks in his office on December 4, 2013 in Tunis. Tabib, who turns 50 at the end of December, had been repeatedly proposed for the premiership by the Popular Front, a leftist grouping of opposition parties, during crisis talks with the ruling Islamists aimed at breaking months of political deadlock. AFP PHOTO / FETHI BELAID / AFP PHOTO / FETHI BELAID

Speaking to Shems FM, the regional health director in Kebili, Samir Marzouk, confirmed that an error dosage happened on the national vaccination day. 61 students were administrated concentrated doses of Pfizer vaccine at the Ibn Haytham high school vaccination centre.

He revealed that usually, the vaccination process requires adding a solution to dilute the vaccine, although this was not done. A crisis unit has been created to monitor the state of health of these students who are doing well according to Samir Marzouk.

The incident did not leave the parents of the students silent. AbdelJalil Bouazza, whose daughter was vaccinated with an overly concentrated dose of the vaccine, said it was not just a slip but gross negligence. He evoked that the students in question are minors between the ages of 15 and 17. This neglect had relatively severe repercussions on the state of health of these young people and caused them a high fever and great fatigue with pain in the joints and rib cage.

He called on the health ministry to issue a formal apology and monitor the state of health of those affected, most of whom are in principle beyond the danger stage. He likewise said that the parents of the students concerned decided to file a complaint with the kebili court of first instance but also with the delegate for Child Protection.