Official investigation outcome tomorrow: Only four reported out of 19 students with side effects!?

The case regarding side effects that appeared in students from Sarajevo after receiving the tetanus vaccine at the Vrazova Health Center has still not been resolved, reports the Patria News Agency.

As confirmed by Indira Šarkić, chief inspector at the Agency for Medicines and Medical Devices of BiH, pharmaceutical inspectors of this Agency, acting ex officio, initiated an inspection of all participants in the distribution chain of the risky drug on December 22, which has a marketing authorization issued by the Agency, titled: “Tetanus Vaccine, adsorbed, Immunological Institute, 10 doses, suspension for injection”.

- Bearing in mind that the Inspectorate is currently considering the established facts and the legal proceedings of the Inspectorate in terms of adopting appropriate administrative measures, I hereby inform you that you will receive answers to the questions asked, based on the established facts, I hope, during tomorrow – Šarkić told Patria.

Therefore, a clearer picture of what happened could finally emerge tomorrow. However, many things are still shrouded in mystery. Namely, as confirmed for Patria from KCUS, a total of nineteen children reported to the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of KCUS with non-specific clinical symptoms indicating possible side effects, such as headaches, tingling in the arms, difficulty walking, and dizziness.

- Six children were admitted for treatment at this Clinic after receiving assistance. They recovered successfully and were released home a few days ago. Doctors from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases informed the Clinical Pharmacology of KCUS about the case, which is mandatory in such situations – said Muamera Šehić, spokesperson for KCUS.

The procedure for reporting possible side effects of certain drugs is such that doctors at the institution where the drugs were administered to patients inform the competent authorities by filling out a form on the website of the Medicines Agency.

Also, as we unofficially learn, doctors from the Clinic for Infectious Diseases informed the authorities at the „Vrazova“ Health Center where the children were vaccinated, and it is assumed that the Health Center filled out the form, i.e., reported the mentioned case.

However, in a statement to Patria, Arman Šarkić, spokesperson for the Sarajevo Canton Health Centers, said that four children for whom post-vaccination reactions were recorded at the Center Health Center were transported to the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of KCUS.

- Previously, the professional staff of the Center Health Center documented in writing the descriptions of post-vaccination reactions for four students, and the documented descriptions were sent to the Hygiene-Epidemiological Service – said Šarkić.

As we unofficially learn, only four cases were reported to the Medicines Agency, which raises the question of what happened to the other 15. In any case, tomorrow the knot could be untangled and the truth will come to light.