Bereaved parents in the U.K. are desperate for answers after
their 18-month-old son, George, was found dead in his crib 10 days after he
received the vaccination for measles, mumps, and rubella. George's parents, Sarah
and Christopher Fisher, believe his death was tied to the vaccine, while a
leading British infant health specialist says he believes George was the victim
of a rare form of seizure called Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood.
Although George had suffered an epileptic fit four months
before the MMR vaccine, doctors say it was safe to administer the shot. However,
George’s parents should have been told to carefully monitor his temperature in
the days following the shot, since the MMR vaccine can cause a “febrile
convulsion” (a fever-related seizure) in one of about two to three thousand
children who receive the vaccine. Still, experts say they know of no case in
which a child has died as a result of a MMR-related febrile convulsion.
George’s parents claim they were not warned to
carefully monitor George’s temperature and health in the days after the shot. The
day before his death, George had diarrhea, red eyes, and wasn’t eating as much
as usual, but since he was otherwise healthy and in good spirits, his parents simply
made a doctor's appointment instead of taking him to the
hospital.
Regardless of the actual cause of George’s death, it is
highly disturbing that medical staff did not stress the importance of
monitoring any post-MMR vaccine reactions. Even if this would not have saved
George’s life, it would have given the parents the invaluable peace of mind of
knowing that every precaution was taken to save their son.
UPDATE: Coroner Finds No Link Between Toddler's Sudden Death and MMR Vaccine
Photo: Telegraph
