The Ministry of Health launched an investigation into the death of three newborn babies in Quang Tri Province after they were vaccinated for Hepatitis B.

 Relatives and neighbours attend the child's funeral in Tran Thi Ha's home

On July 21, the provincial heath department, Huong Hoa District People's Committee and General Hospital in Huong Hoa District visited the babies’ families to offer consolation and financial support of VND8 million (USD384) for each family.

The families said they wanted the authorities to find the cause of the death as soon as possible so similar incidents will not occur.

The babies have been taken back home for burial while Quang Tri Province Police are still completing forensic investigation.

In 2007, Vietnam had to halt the vaccination schedule for hepatitis B pending investigation because a number of newborns presented with complications after being given shots. Even though the Ministry of Health announced later that the vaccines were not the cause of death, families and several hospitals chose not to vaccinate against hepatitis B within the first 24 hours of birth. As a result the hepatitis B vaccination rates dropped from 60% in 2005 to 20% in 2011.

One expert said hepatitis B vaccines have low risk of complications and that these three deaths in one area is extremely rare, adding that it is more suspicious than cases in which newborns show complications in various provinces. He also pointed out that the actual causes are still unknown; they could have been caused by the vaccine itself, improper administration or side effects compounded by other unknown medical conditions.

The head of Bach Mai Hospital's Paediatrics Department, Dr Nguyen Tien Dung, said newborn babies must be examined carefully for illnesses before being given vaccination shots.

Vietnam started giving the hepatitis B vaccine in 2003 and since, the vaccination rate for children under one year old has remained higher than 90%. However this rate remains lower than 30% for newborn babies even though newborn babies who receive vaccination within 24 hours after birth have lower risks of carrying the virus than children who take the shots one week after birth.