BEIRUT: Health Minister Wael Abu Faour opened a probe Monday into the mysterious death of a 4-year-old girl that occurred a day after she was vaccinated, raising speculation that she might have been given a contaminated vaccine.
News of Serene Rakan’s death circulated on social media platforms, after her father had posted on his Facebook page: “Serene was vaccinated and died the second day, I don’t know why.”
According to the National News Agency, Abu Faour got in touch with the father asking for the physician’s identity and contacts to start a probe into the cause of Rakan’s death.
But the father categorically refused to allow an autopsy or to divulge the name of the doctor, citing personal reasons, including the fact that the physician was a trustworthy friend of the family.
Abu Faour, nonetheless, ordered the ministry to probe the incident, pleading with the family of the girl to cooperate with the investigators.
The minister pointed out that all the vaccines distributed by his ministry were provided by UNICEF and systematically checked to ensure quality and validity, noting that hundreds of children were regularly vaccinated without incident.
The distressed father said the family was preparing to emigrate to Canada, fearing looming chaos and violence in Lebanon.
“Serene died 20 days before I could bring her to safe shores. Serene died from a contaminated vaccine like this corrupt country,” the father wrote on his Facebook page.
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