MEASLES VACCINATION CAMPAIGN 2017
The Department will embark on a nationwide Measles Vaccination Campaign during the month of June to raise awareness about the importance of children vaccination starting today 12 – 30 June 2017.
The campaign is free and is targeting children from 6 months to 59 months.
WHAT IS MEASLES?
Measles is an infectious disease common in children and is usually characterised by rash, high fever, cough and runny nose.
According to WHO report, in 2015, about 85% of the world’s children received one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday through routine health services – up from 73% in 2000 preventing an estimated 20.3 million deaths.
The Department encourages parents and caregivers to take along the child’s Road to Health Booklet whenever they take their children for health care services. Consent forms have been sent to crèches and schools for parents and caregivers to sign and return them to enable School Health Teams visiting these facilities, to provide vaccination and other health services to children.
In addition to providing vaccination at clinics and Community Health Centres,(CHCS) the Department will bring the service into communities with mobile services being available in public places such as community halls and shopping centres to ensure easy access and achieve maximum vaccination coverage.
The symptoms of measles are:
•High fever, rising over three days to 39 or 40° C
•Runny nose
•A harsh, dry cough