Death highlights the importance of vaccination
Recent media reports highlighted a growing concern about deadly diseases, and hence the need for vaccinations.
The National Polio and Measles Immunisation Campaign and the Global/African Vaccination Week were recently held when Dr Robyn, from ER24, reminded parents that it is critical to vaccinate children against potentially common and preventable conditions.
Vaccines are a safe way of preventing serious childhood diseases.
There were over 60 confirmed cases of measles in parts of the country last year.
Julia Hill, the South Africa Access Advocacy Officer at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), said when parents choose not to vaccinate their children, they not only put their own children at risk, but also create a larger pool of individuals who could contract and spread the disease.
It has been reported that during March this year, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) recognised a case of diphtheria, which is a disease caused by Gram-positive bacteria called Corynebacterium Diphtheriae. The disease claimed the life of an eight-year-old boy.
Therefore, due to the increase of diseases, it remains important to have children vaccinated for common diseases such as measles.
“Vaccinations are thus done as part of the SA-expanded programme on immunisation (EPI), which is scheduled from the age of nine months,” said Dr Hape Makoe from ER24.
Information provided by ER24.
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