The death of a four-year-old girl in Palermo from diphtheria has prompted renewed scrutiny of vaccine refusal amid rising concerns over declining immunisation coverage and the resurgence of preventable diseases.
A four-year-old girl has died in Palermo after contracting diphtheria, in a case that has put vaccine refusal and falling confidence in childhood immunisation back under scrutiny. Doctors at the Civico hospital said they fought to save her after she arrived in a severe condition at Cervello hospital on Saturday, but her health deteriorated quickly and she was moved to intensive care at the children’s hospital. The hospital said the child had not been vaccinated because her parents did not want her to receive the jab. Her three siblings have since been vaccinated by the local health authority and the Civico hospital.
Specialists made several attempts to keep her alive, including transferring her for possible extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, a form of life support used when the heart and lungs can no longer do the job alone. Domenico Cipolla, the hospital’s medical director, told Adnkronos that staff had done everything possible over two days, but said the infection appeared to have been diphtheria, pending confirmation from the Higher Health Institute and the autopsy ordered by prosecutors. Cipolla also confirmed that the child’s four-year-old cousin had been infected but, because he had completed the first round of vaccination in infancy, his condition was not serious.
The family’s decision not to vaccinate the girl was reportedly linked to a belief that a cousin’s autism had been caused by the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. There is no scientific evidence for that claim. The original study that fuelled the idea was later withdrawn because of serious irregularities, and later research has not supported any connection between vaccines and autism. The case has also raised questions about whether hospital procedures were followed correctly, which investigators are now examining.
According to Italy’s Health Ministry and the Higher Health Institute, diphtheria is a serious, contagious bacterial infection caused by a toxin produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It can form a dangerous membrane in the airways, make breathing difficult and, in severe cases, damage the heart and nervous system. In Italy, the vaccine is part of the hexavalent jab given in infancy under the national vaccination schedule, with booster doses later on. The ministry says several childhood vaccines are free and mandatory, reflecting the wider public-health aim of keeping coverage high enough to protect not only vaccinated children but also those who cannot be immunised for medical reasons. PAHO warned in June 2026 that diphtheria cases were again appearing in parts of the Americas, underlining how quickly the disease can return when immunisation gaps widen.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
