Children’s ‘Wing Drop’ Disease May Be Caused by Vaccination

Six months after the discovery of Delta muscle atrophy in children in Nghi Xuân district, Hà Tĩnh, the situation surrounding this disease continues to escalate in many localities. Mr. Trần Văn Lạng, former Director of the Hanoi Center for Preventive Medicine, stated that the cause of the disease may be related to vaccinations.

– In your opinion, what factors might lead to Delta muscle atrophy?

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Patient with Delta muscle atrophy (Photo: ND)

In my opinion, it could be due to vaccinations. I have previously learned that injecting into the deltoid muscle, where there are fewer nerve endings, would result in less pain. However, it seems we have concentrated too many injections in that area. There are no bacteria or viruses affecting it. The cause is likely mechanical, due to injecting multiple substances into a single site. I believe that is the main factor. If injections were spread out, such as in the thigh or bicep, it might not be an issue. But concentrating injections in one spot definitely has certain effects.

– During discussions among scientists involved in the research on Delta muscle atrophy in Hà Tĩnh, some opinions suggested that the condition results from injections of certain oily medications or drugs like lincomycin and streptomycin. What do you think?

– Clearly, injecting oily medications will have an impact because recipients often experience significant pain after such injections. This pain is due to nerve irritation. If many oily medications are injected, it can be very harmful.

– What about the role of vaccines, sir?

– I haven’t considered that yet, because vaccines must meet certain standards, and the dosage is quite small. Vaccination occurs worldwide, not just in Vietnam. Here, I want to emphasize the issue of injecting various substances into one site, which may include other medications along with the vaccine.

– Previously, the Department of Science and Training (Ministry of Health) suggested studying the environment in areas with high rates of Delta muscle atrophy to identify potential issues. What are your thoughts?

– I doubt it; all the children born in those areas are normal. The only factor affecting them is the injections, with no other contributing elements. As I mentioned, anatomically, the deltoid muscle has fewer pain receptors, so people often choose to inject there to reduce pain. The deltoid area has been subjected to early and frequent interventions, leading to atrophy and drooping.

Personally, I was injured in my left arm during the war, and subsequently, all injections had to be done in my right arm. My right arm now has limited movement, with a portion of the muscle feeling tight and occasionally numb when the weather changes. For someone my age, the consequences are limited, but could there be more serious outcomes for younger individuals?

– What about the quality of medications? Does it have any impact?

– It clearly has an impact. As I mentioned, injecting oily medications into muscles is undesirable. In preventive medicine, I often see injections being given to the deltoid area. Additionally, the depth of the injection also matters. A deep injection is less painful than a shallow one, but it may affect the nerves more.

– The expanded vaccination program and “service vaccines” require children to receive numerous injections, not to mention those during adulthood. What do you think should be done to avoid adverse outcomes from these vaccinations?

– There should be certain regulations regarding where injections should be administered. Often, intramuscular and subcutaneous injections are confused. Furthermore, the distinction between shallow and deep injections is not clear. For instance, in the case of BCG vaccinations, where children’s skin is thin, the requirement is to inject intradermally, but if done even slightly too deep, it can cause significant ulceration; while a correct injection results in just a small mark. Injection techniques are not simple.

– On May 10, a boy just over a year old died after receiving a vaccine. In your opinion, is the transportation and storage of vaccines in Vietnam adequate?

– Inspections have shown that vaccines reaching communal levels are stored within a cold chain. However, when inspections are not conducted, it is uncertain. The transportation of vaccines from the community down to villages for administration raises questions about their quality. If vaccine storage is poor, vaccination efforts may be futile, resulting in administering saline instead of actual vaccines.

It cannot be ruled out that in some areas, vaccines do not meet quality standards. There are certainly places where procedures are sloppy. While good supervision helps, it is not guaranteed. It should not be assumed that all 100 vaccines administered are of good quality. Therefore, before each vaccination campaign, thorough preparations must be made, and parents should be informed clearly about potential side effects that their children may experience after vaccination, such as fever or pain…

Fever is acceptable; if vaccinations lead to bleeding, that may also be tolerable, but if a child dies, it will significantly impact vaccination efforts. Poor preparation and lack of attention are very dangerous.