Tetanus vaccine ‘shortage’ hits Tshwane

The Tshwane metro has confirmed that it has been affected by the apparent nationwide tetanus vaccination shortage, Rekord East reports.

“There is a nationwide shortage of the vaccine,” spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said.

Mashigo said all health facilities were affected as the stocks in the country had expired in previous months.

“All facilities are affected as all stock that is in the country expired in August and September,” he said.

News of the shortage of the vaccine was announced by Tshwane metro health MMC Sakkie du Plooy, during a National Press Club discussion last month.

Du Plooy said the metro’s facilities were unable to offer the vaccine because stock was unavailable.

Mashigo told the media that stock was expected in facilities next month.

“Stock can be expected in facilities from December 2018, depending on whether it will have passed the national control laboratory tests,” he said.

But national health department spokesperson Popo Maja said his department had no knowledge of the shortage.

“We are not aware of a nationwide shortage,” he said.

Maja said since Rekord first enquired about the shortage he had spoken to several provincial heads [of department], including Gauteng’s, and “none of them are aware”.

“The department would know better than the municipality,” he said.

Maja added that the shortage reported by the Tshwane metro “seems untrue”.

Gauteng health department spokesperson Lesemang Matuka who was not immediately available for comment on Monday previously said his department also had no knowledge of the shortage.

According to the national institute of communicable diseases, tetanus is a potentially fatal infection which affects the nerves with its only known form of prevention being through vaccination.

“[It is] caused by the toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani which is often found in soil, street dust or animal or human excrement. Tetanus occurs in all parts of the world but is most frequent in hot and wet climates where the soil contains a lot of organic matter.”

Tetanus causes painful muscle contractions, particularly in the jaw and neck. It can interfere with the ability to breathe and eventually cause death.

The first three vaccinations are given to babies at six, 10 and 14 weeks. A fourth is given at 18 months as part of the national expanded programme on immunisation in the SA childhood immunisation schedule.

Booster shots are given at six and 12 years of age.