Our Khulna correspondent said Shahanara of Gopalpur village was taken for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) jab to the camp under Extended Programme of Immunisation (EPI).

The vaccine, under routine EPI programme, was the child's second dose in the last three months and seventh dose from the same vial of the vaccine that has also been put into six other children at the camp.

The health directorate described the death as 'unfortunate' and said no one is to be blamed for the incident.

According to the family sources, Shahanara went into severe convulsions on her way home soon after she received the intra-muscular injection vaccine. As she vomited and her condition deteriorated fast, her parents took her to the local upazila health complex. The attending doctor there declared her dead on arrival.

Sources said Civil Surgeon Dr Hame Jamal visited Paikgachha shortly after the incident and asked the father of the child, Punai Gazi, to bury the girl as quickly as possible without an autopsy. Punai, a day-labourer, was also paid some money to compensate for the two days he has had off work due to the death.

When contacted, Director of Primary Health Care (PHC) Dr Mahbubur Rahman said, "We cannot rule out the possibility of the child dying in reaction to the vaccine (DTP). In fact, according to the World Health Organisation, death of one in three million from DTP vaccines is globally accepted and is very unfortunate for the child."

Dr Rahman further explained that all vaccines have 80 percent efficacy. The remaining 20 percent of the vaccines can cause accidents and it is globally accepted.

Medical experts say a vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. But the risk of DTP vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Dr Rahman said that EPI officials are investigating the incident. While asked about the removal of the vials manufactured from the same batch, Dr Rahman said, "We can't order removal of the vials made in the same batch because it's troublesome and those vials have already been scattered across the country."

The EPI services in Paikgachha upazila remained suspended, health directorate sources said.