Vaccination rate climbs in EC
DESPITE fears that the vaccination rate would fall after the Eastern Cape department of health withdrew state-issued vaccines from private clinics around Nelson Mandela Bay, the latest statistics issued by the Health District Barometer shows the vaccination rate in the province have actually been climbing steadily.
In her policy and budget speech last month, MEC for Health Dr Pumza Dyantyi said the department of health had managed to increase the vaccination rate in the Eastern Cape province as well.
According to the latest edition of the Health District Barometer, the immunisation rate in Nelson Mandela Bay has been climbing steadily since 2012 from 84.7% to 87.6%.
The percentage of children receiving a second dose of measles coverage had also increased from 65.7% to 74.2%.
Last year, the provincial department decided to withdraw all state-issued vaccines from private clinics as they were unhappy about a consultancy fee charged by the private clinics.
Owner of PE Babynet and certified childbirth educator Michelle van der Westhuizen said mothers around town had been making a concerted effort to get their babies immunised.
Van der Westhuizen said while moms without medical aids had started going to state clinics, most medical aids were paying for the private vaccines.
“Some medical aids such as Discovery pays for vaccines from the day-to-day funds, while for others it comes from the risk funds. Most of them pay. Members can also claim back the consultation fee,” Van der Westhuizen said.
World Immunisation Week started yesterday and will run until April 30.
Deputy director of the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) Professor Charles Wiysonge said despite the availability of effective vaccines, 1.5 million children from across the world, including South Africa, died each year from preventable diseases.
“Three in every 10 South African children do not receive all their vaccinations, leaving them vulnerable to deadly diseases that could easily have been prevented.
“Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective means to save children’s lives.”
“Immunisation is important in all stages of an individual’s life as it helps children and adolescents fight infectious diseases and restores waning immunity in adults.
“In addition to benefits to the individual who receives the vaccine, immunisation helps protect his or her family members, friends, and the community at large,” Wiysonge said.
Worldwide immunisation is estimated to prevent more than three million deaths every year which would have been caused by diseases such as measles, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, diphtheria, pneumonia and diarrhoea.
“One in four children in Africa is still not receiving the vaccinations he or she needs,” said Wiysonge, who also serves on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation, as well as the African Task Force on Immunisation.
“Only 70% of children in South Africa receive all their vaccinations – this is less than the average for the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, which is estimated at 77% by the WHO and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef),” he said.
“In addition, a new phenomenon is emerging in South Africa. This is known as vaccine hesitancy, where people may accept only some vaccines or may even totally reject all vaccines,” Wiysonge said.
“It is within our power to close this immunisation gap. Increased political and financial commitments are required from African governments to maintain the current achievements and make progress.
“Parents, guardians, adolescents, adults, and health workers also need to understand the vital importance of keeping immunisations up to date,” Wiysonge added. * The measles vaccination product and schedule in South Africa has been updated since 01 December 2015.
