Gauteng Health urges parents to sign consent forms as measles outbreak continues
The Gauteng Department of Health is calling on parents to sign school consent forms to ensure children are vaccinated during the ongoing measles outbreak.
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) urges parents and guardians to protect their children against the ongoing measles outbreak by signing consent forms provided through schools as part of the Measles-Rubella (MR) mass vaccination campaign.
The department said the six-week campaign began on August 4 and runs until September 12, adding that teams of professional nurses are working to vaccinate more than three million children by the end of the campaign.
“The GDoH is concerned by the low immunisation coverage rates, which pose a significant risk to the health of children.
“So far, only 914 112 children have been vaccinated. However, a higher percentage of children could not be given the vaccine due to a concerning trend whereby parents or legal guardians do not sign consent forms,” stated the health department.
It emphasised the importance of parents understanding that measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and even death.
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According to the health department, the province has reported over 400 confirmed measles cases since January.
It added that the vaccination campaign is a proactive measure to increase immunity and reduce vulnerability to vaccine-preventable diseases, ultimately protecting children and communities from the serious consequences of measles.
The health department reassures parents and guardians that MR vaccines are safe for children, adding that the vaccine has undergone extensive clinical trials and regulatory reviews to ensure its safety and effectiveness for children.
“We understand that concerns about vaccine safety can arise, but assure parents that the MR vaccine is safe for children.
“I encourage all parents and guardians to take this opportunity seriously and sign consent forms for their children,” said the MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
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