The National Department of Health plans to conduct an integrated measles and polio campaign to protect the health of young children.

The department plans to achieve at least 95% measles vaccine coverage in children aged 6 months to 59 months and a 90% oral polio vaccine (OPV) coverage in children aged 0 months to 59 months.

The City of Ekurhuleni will partake in the mass immunisation campaign that will be carried out at all primary health care facilities in Ekurhuleni. Vaccinations will be conducted in two rounds from 12 to 30 September and the second phase from 30 to 11 November.

“Prevention is better than cure and we encourage parents to bring their children to be immunised irrespective of their immunisation status,” said the Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe.

In addition, the integrated campaign will also afford opportunities for nutritional screening in children aged 6 – 59 months by conducting a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) screening test.

Parents are reminded to ensure they bring along their child’s clinic card.

 Details of the vaccination process are as follows:

• The first immunisation round from 12 September 2016 to 30 September

Measles Vaccine 6 – 59 months

Vitamin A  12 – 59 months

Mebendazole Deworming tablets 4 – 59 months

Nutritional screening 6 – 59 months

• The second immunusation round from 31 October to 11 November
  

Oral Polio Vaccine      0 – 59 months