9-year-old girl’s death in Thal, first linked to HPV vaccine, caused by typhoid: report

A 9-year-old girl from Thal village in Sindh recently passed away after receiving a shot of the HPV vaccine, which raised concerns in the local community about possible harmful effects of the vaccination. However, a detailed report by the investigation team later confirmed that the child had contracted typhoid, which led to her death.

According to the findings, the girl was diagnosed with typhoid at the Sukkur Institute of Child Health. The report, submitted to the Jacobabad district health officer, stated that her parents initially alleged she died due to the HPV vaccine, without a post-mortem examination.

The girl had been vaccinated on September 18 and was admitted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital soon after. As her fever worsened, she was referred to a tertiary hospital in Sukkur, where doctors diagnosed her with typhoid. She passed away the next day.

Families of other girls who received the HPV vaccine reported that their daughters experienced fever and breathing difficulties. Doctors, however, clarified that those children had not eaten for the previous two days, which contributed to their condition.

After treatment, the girls were discharged. The investigation report also reviewed the expiry and batch details of the HPV vaccine and declared them satisfactory.