Make sure your child is vaccinated
Health department advises parents to get their children immunised.
OVER the last few months, it appears that the vaccine debate to prevent infectious diseases such as polio, measles and smallpox, among others, has intensified.
Those in favour make valid points and have journals to support the argument of why vaccination programmes are important for babies and children.
But one cannot simply ignore the opposing homeopathic route, which some parents are now choosing to take.
These views came about after researchers linked vaccinations to being the cause of autism in children.
However, in a statement released, the Department of Health said that the homeopathic option is not the solution, and rather advised parents to get their children vaccinated.
Ngwelezana Hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Thobile Hadebe stated that children should receive these vaccinations in order to be protected from communicable or infectious diseases.
‘An infection in a child could lead to death or paralysis. In most cases, when TB, diarrhoea, measles or pneumonia are reported, it is the result of missed vaccinations,’ she said.
Late last year, an outbreak of measles was reported in the KZN region.
Although only one case was confirmed in the uThungulu District, parents were concerned about their children contracting these contagious diseases at schools.
In response to what is being done about monitoring any outbreaks, uThungulu Health District’s Public Relations Officer, Sibongiseni Manqele said, ‘School Health teams visit the schools to check on the children’s Road to Health Booklet. These confirm whether the children’s vaccinations are up to date and if not, the children are issued with consent forms for parents to sign, enabling the health team to give the children their outstanding vaccinations.’
This plan assists in making vaccinations easily accessible while at the same time preventing children from missing out on school work.
The Health Department recommends that children be vaccinated at birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 9 months, 18 months, 6 years and at 12 years old. Vaccinations are available at any of the registered clinics.
