Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud has promised the mother of Kevon Critchlow, the infant who died after receiving vaccinations at the Plaisance Health Centre, a report on the cause of her son’s death by the end of the month.
Suemede Eastman-Critchlow told Stabroek News that after officials from the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security visited her home on March 31, she was invited to meet senior medical officials on April 1. Present at this meeting were Dr Persaud, Chief Nursing Officer Nurse Barker as well as a representative from the Ministry of Human Services.
At the meeting, held at the Ministry of Health, Eastman-Critchlow was told that a Dr Woolford will be convening a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding her son’s death. The investigation is expected to be concluded in four weeks, at which time the distraught mother expects to be given an explanation for her son’s death.
On March 18, Eastman-Critchlow took her four-month-old son Kevon Critchlow to the Plaisance Health Centre for routine vaccination. One day after the infant received four sets of vaccines, he was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Hospital. Before his death, young Critchlow was lethargic, had a high fever and was bleeding from his nose.
An autopsy revealed that at the time of his death the child was suffering from a brain haemorrhage. The examination, however, could not conclusively identify a cause of death and samples have reportedly been sent off for further testing.
The distraught young mother believes that the nurse who vaccinated Kevon mistakenly injected him with vaccines meant for his five-year-old cousin, who is also named K. Critchlow.
In a quest for answers, the family conducted a protest in front of the Plaisance Health Centre, after which they were informed that an investigation would be launched.
