Government to assess vaccination programme

wipe out two main child killer diseases under the immunisation month is successful, a health official has revealed.
Government is targeting to eradicate measles and polio as well as reducing child deaths from vaccines-preventable diseases under the ongoing programme.
In an interview yesterday, Epidermology and Disease Control Director in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Portia Manangazira, said human papilona virus (HPV) vaccine for cervical cancer would be introduced for young women, while rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines were for childhood diarrhoea and pneumonia respectively.
“The three vaccines will come in only after the ongoing immunisation programme is successful and that will be sometime next year.
“We do not want a situation whereby we take up more programmes without fully addressing to the ones we have already,” she said.
Dr Manangazira said Government had strengthened the immunisation coverage, which had gone down from 2008 to 2009 and urged communities to increase participation in the programmes.
“The country is committed to the immunisation programme as a pillar for child survival and development whose main objective is to reduce morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable diseases-MDG4.
” Even parents whose children are above the age of five should take them to their nearest health centre for vaccination against child killer diseases,” she said.

 

She said the programme was also targeting the most vulnerable children and those in hard to reach areas.
Dr Manangazira commended increased participation by members of the apostolic sects and urged them to continue taking part in immunisation programmes.
She noted that several reactions to vaccination should be expected especially in babies below one year old and that parents should seek medical attention on time.
“Reactions are very normal because we will provoke the babies’ bodies, but what is important is that these cases are reported on time.
“Reactions range from skin rashes to high temperatures and sometimes vomiting, but parents should not panic,” she said.
The Ministry of Health together with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have endorsed the need to commemorate the vaccination month emphasising on revitalising outreach work as well as strengthening vaccinations at static facilities during the month of April.