16-Year-Old Schoolgirl Reported Dead After Taking Second Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine

A 16-year-old girl reportedly died after receiving her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Uttar Pradesh, India on Tuesday, March 29.

The underage girl, a student of Adarsh ​​Kanya Inter College, Garhmukteshwar, Uttar Pradesh, was reportedly administered her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 7. earlier this year. According to the girl's father, the girl fell ill after receiving the first jab and had to be taken to a private doctor in Meerut for treatment. After consulting with a physician, the girl reportedly took about 15 to 20 days to recover, PTC News reported.

She subsequently returned to school after regaining her health. However, at the educational institution, she was allegedly required by school authorities to receive a second dose of the vaccine. After being administered the second shot, the girl reportedly fell ill again and had to be hospitalized. Unfortunately, her health quickly deteriorated and she succumbed to serious complications. She was declared dead on March 29.

Following the girl's death, Gargi Chauhan, the principal of Adarsh ​​Kanya Inter College, the school where the victim was studying, was contacted by the authorities. Chauhan allegedly blamed the victim's parents for the girl's death, dismissing that her guardians failed to inform school authorities in writing about the adverse reaction that she had suffered after taking the first dose of the vaccine.

However, the girl's father claimed that his daughter had informed one of her teachers about her hospitalization after the first jab. According to the father, even though his daughter showed reluctance in taking the second shot, the school administration did not pay heed to her request and forced her to receive the second vaccine dose on Feb. 18. After being administered the jab, the girl had to be rushed to a hospital where she was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critical condition.

"After taking the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 18, my daughter fell ill. She was rushed to PGI, Rohtak, Haryana, where she remained in ICU. However, she died on March 29," the girl's father claimed.

Following the girl's death, her father has accused the school administration of negligence and held them responsible for his daughter's death. The victim's family has now decided to file a police complaint and lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against the school management.