Immunisation campaign for young kids now on

The Department of Health has embarked on a vaccination drive for children aged zero to 12 years as part of commemorating the Global and African Vaccination week which commenced on Tuesday and will run until the end of April.
Departmental head of communications, Neil Shikwambana said vaccination will be conducted in all the public health clinics and in some early development centres which have an agreement with the department and where parents have also signed consent forms. He further said South Africa was the first country in Africa to introduce the rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines through its Expanded Programme on Immunisation and this is seen as a significant step towards achieving the sustainable development goal.
According to Shikwambana, diseases such polio, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, rotavirus diarrhoea, pertussis, pneumococcal disease, haemophilus influenza type B, meningitis,
tuberculosis, hepatitis B and human papilloma virus can be successfully prevented through effective immunisation.
He stated that the department was committed to improve the quality of primary healthcare throughout the province through its various programmes and initiatives, starting with immunisation which is given at birth, six weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, six months, nine months, 12 months, 18 months, six years, nine years for girls and 12 years for school health.
Shikwambana said the theme for this year’s vaccination week is ‘Vaccines work: Do your part’ and called on parents and guardians to avail their children to be vaccinated at their nearest health facility.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za