There are conflicting reports between a local investigation committee in Kapoeta state and National Ministry of Health over what exactly caused the deaths of 15 children, who died in Nacholdokopele village after a measles vaccination campaign in early May, a lawmaker said.

Angelo Abdallah, a member of the Kapoeta state parliament, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that the local investigation committee found that the health workers used expired measles vaccines, a finding which contradicts the recent report announced by the national government in Juba.

The legislator criticized the report released by the Ministry of Health saying the deaths were caused by severe toxicity resulting from the administration of a contaminated vaccine.

According to the Ministry of Health in Juba, one syringe was used for all the young children during the four-day campaign without sterilizing it, and the vaccine was stored without refrigeration.

The nationwide measles vaccination campaign was targeting more than two million children. The drive was supported by the World Health Organization and the UN children’s agency provided the vaccines to the government.