Caught on CCTV: Maharashtra teen collapses minutes after taking vaccination, dies

A 17-year-old girl died shortly after receiving a tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine at a municipal immunisation camp in Maharashtra’s Nashik, prompting authorities to launch a multi-level investigation and suspend the use of the vaccine batch involved. The deceased had visited a routine vaccination drive organised by the Nashik Municipal Corporation at a camp on Wednesday afternoon.

According to officials, she was administered the booster dose around 12.40 pm. Soon after, she reportedly complained of dizziness and collapsed near a medical shop close to the vaccination camp.

CCTV footage circulating from the area shows the teenager falling unconscious on the road. According to the witnesses, she also suffered a head injury due to the fall and was immediately rushed to a district government hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Her family has alleged that the death occurred due to the vaccine and has demanded strict action against those responsible. However, health authorities said that the exact cause of death is yet to be determined.

Officials said the same vaccine vial had been used for six other beneficiaries at the camp, including four pregnant women, one 16-year-old girl and one 10-year-old boy, none of whom reported any adverse reactions. However, the batch has since been suspended as a precaution and samples have been sent for laboratory testing.

A post-mortem examination is being conducted and viscera samples have been preserved for forensic analysis. Police have registered an accidental death case at Ambad police station and further investigation is underway.

According to the municipal health department, 24 vials from the batch were received, of which 12 have been used so far. Each vial typically covers around 10 doses. Officials said approximately 120 vaccinations have been administered through the same centre without any reported adverse reactions.

Dr Vijay Devkar, Chief Medical and Health Officer of the Nashik Municipal Corporation, said Td vaccines protect against tetanus and diphtheria and are routinely administered to adolescents and pregnant women. He said the vaccine is considered safe and is given in large numbers every year, adding that rare adverse reactions cannot be ruled out.

“This vaccine is administered to 10-year-old children, 16-year-old adolescents, and pregnant women. In Nashik alone, around 30,000 pregnant women and an equal number of adolescents receive it annually,” Dr Devkar said in a statement.

He added that the exact cause of death will only be determined after all reports, including police panchnama, post-mortem findings, vaccine sample analysis and viscera reports, are reviewed.

"The final report will reveal the exact cause of the death. For now, a case of accidental death has been registered at the Ambad police station and further investigations are on," said an official.

Furthermore, Dr Devkar appealed to the public and media not to circulate unverified claims, noting that some reports had incorrectly suggested the vaccine was linked to cancer prevention or other unrelated treatment.

He added that World Health Organisation-linked coordinators have also been informed and have collected preliminary details.

An AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) committee has been activated to investigate the incident. Officials said a high-level meeting was held at the health director’s office, with the report to be forwarded to Pune headquarters and subsequently to the state government.

- Ends