By Yusra Ahmed
(Zaman Al Wasl)- Zaman al-Wasl has obtained a copy of the primary report provided by the investigation team in the deaths of 36 children inoculated against measles in the northwestern province of Idlib.
The report highlighted many important and very serious findings.
The most important fact was that ampoules of “atracurium” drug were found in one of the cool containers “Thermos” used in vaccination campaign in Sinjar in Idlib countryside, and led to death of many children. The containers were handed to the investigation committee on 17/9/2014 morning. Atracurium is a neuromuscular-blocking drug or skeletal muscle relaxant, used adjunctively in anesthesia to facilitate endotracheal intubation and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation. The needed dose to start anasthesia is 0.5mg/kg, while the dose given to children was 5 mg, which is enough for children weigh 10 kg or less, to enter a case of complete paralysis condition, and that what happened to the children who died, while children heavier than that had less effects.
The mistake was that Atracurium was used as a solution to dissolve the vaccine, instead of the accompanied dissolvent. Investigations show that sort of similarity between the shape and size of the dissolvent and Atracurium's ampoules.
Moreover, investigation showed that vaccine was stored in the fridge designated for the vaccine, while Atracurium found in the “thermos” was identical to the drug found in the fridge that was designated to keeping vaccine.
According to the initial information, the file was transferred to the responsible court to investigate in reasons behind using the fridge designated for vaccine, to store Atacurium, and if that was personal mistake or there was a criminal incentive behind it.
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