Vaccine mix-up leaves 15 Syrian infants dead

Sept. 17, 2014: Two Syrian children receive treatment after they were given a second round of measles vaccinations, in Idlib province. At least 15 children died after receiving vaccinations in rebel-held parts of Syria. (AP/Edlib News Network ENN)

A tragic mix-up at a vaccine clinic in northern Syria left 15 children dead Tuesday – all between the ages of 6 months and 18 months old.

The opposition group National Coalition investigated the incident and determined that medics gave 75 children the muscle relaxant atracurium instead of a solution used to mix measles vaccines, the BBC reports.

The group said it suspected a "security breach by vandals" linked to President Bashar Assad’s government. The packaging for atracurium is believed to be similar to the solution.

As a result of the incident, the immunization program was suspended and the health minister of Syria’s opposition government resigned, according to the BBC.

The U.N. and non-governmental organizations have launched immunization campaigns across rebel-held parts of Syria to combat diseases such as measles and polio.

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