Polio vaccine shortage stabilised
The department has called for community participation in regards to the drive, and has asked that the following information be made public:
The nationwide shortage of the orally administered polio vaccine has came under fire from local and national media earlier this year.
Reportedly, the Newcastle Provincial Hospital ran out of stock in mid April. Comment received from Amajuba District Health Manager, Nomsa Tshabalala, confirmed a national shortage, and Newcastle was not isolated.
Mrs Tshabalala confirmed the shortage in the Amajuba District was indeed affecting the Newcastle Provincial Hospital, but stated the shortage was experienced from May.
A press release sent to newsrooms on July 21, claimed the Department of Health had received stock of the vaccine in June.
“The vaccines were delivered to the depot on June 13 and Newcastle Provincial Hospital received its order on June 18,” said Mrs Tshabalala. “The Department of Health is currently implementing a catch-up drive throughout the country.”
The department has called for community participation in regards to the drive, and has asked that the following information be made public:
– Kindly bring children to the nearest clinic for immunisation.
– Community members and parents can help by immediately reporting any child who develops weakness of either an arm and/or leg (without injury), to the nearest clinic or hospital.
– When a patient with such weakness is taken to hospital, tests are done to ensure it is not polio.
– All parents and caregivers must take their children to the clinic for polio drops at the correct age.
Following national news coverage of the shortage, the Newcastle Advertiser also lodged queries with relevant parties involved in the manufacture, supply and distribution of the vaccine.
Children who were born in the past six months need to be taken to the nearest clinic or hospital, to ensure the vaccine is administered in appropriate doses.
To date, the Department of Health and the Biovac Institute, which supplies the vaccine nationally, are still to respond to questions surrounding the circumstances that led to the shortage, and also why the public was not forewarned.
