Sedibeng parents urged to catch up on children’s vaccinations amid measles concerns
Low immunisation coverage in Gauteng has prompted outreach teams to visit townships and farming communities to trace unvaccinated under-fives.
Parents and caregivers in Heidelberg, Ratanda and surrounding areas face an urgent call to ensure children receive their routine immunisations following low coverage figures in Gauteng.
The warning comes after Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Faith Mazibuko, together with Gauteng Department of Health outreach teams, visited communities across the province on September 3.
The outreach teams visited townships, informal settlements and farming communities to bring healthcare services closer to residents. During the visits, health officials identified a significant number of children under five years old who had missed their routine immunisations.
The department warned of a potential resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, leaving unvaccinated children vulnerable to serious illness.
Parents must ensure children receive all vaccinations according to the schedule recorded in their Road to Health Booklet, taking those with missed doses to the nearest healthcare facility.
Gauteng recorded 72% immunisation coverage among children under one year old during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, while only 70.7% received the second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine.
Sedibeng recorded lower coverage, at 69.5% among children under one year old and 69.1% for the second dose of the MR vaccine. The district was the second-lowest performing in Gauteng, ahead of only Tshwane.
West Rand recorded the highest coverage, at 90.6% and 86.3%, respectively. Mazibuko warned that declining coverage increases children’s vulnerability to severe illness, long-term complications and death, urging parents to take children for catch-up immunisation without delay.
Symptoms can include fever, a rash, persistent coughing and other signs of serious illness. Children presenting concerning symptoms should be kept away from other children and taken to a healthcare facility for assessment.
Parents should avoid sending sick children to school or crèches until they have received appropriate medical advice.
The department has further reminded parents that children between six months and five years old should visit healthcare facilities every six months for vitamin A supplementation and deworming treatment.
These services support healthy growth, strengthen immunity and help prevent nutritional deficiencies and parasitic infections.
Parents who have lost their child’s Road to Health Booklet can still visit their nearest healthcare facility, where healthcare workers will assist with catch-up immunisation and other necessary services.
