MORE BABIES OVER 6 MONTHS NEED VACCINATION: HEALTH AUTHORITIES

A child being immunised. Photo credit: SIBC.

A child being immunised. Photo credit: SIBC.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services say more babies over six months old need to be vaccinated against the potentially deadly measles disease.

A media statement from the Ministry today said this was despite more than 56-thousand measles vaccines being provided to Honiara to date.

It says while the public has responded extremely well to the call from the Ministry and the Honiara City Council to get vaccinated, more focus on babies over six months is needed.

Undersecretary Health Improvement Dr Tenneth Dalipanda says the positive response so far means that people are better protected from the potentially deadly measles virus, but with some still being left behind.

Babies over six months are one of the groups most likely to die from complications associated with measles, and more than 500 still need to be vaccinated in Honiara.

A national measles vaccination campaign was launched on 3rd September in response to steadily increasing measles cases in the country, with an initial focus on people aged six to 30 years in Honiara.

Satellite vaccination sites were set up in 10 locations around Honiara to ensure greater access to the vaccines.

The Honiara City Council is using mobile teams this week to visit homes, identify and vaccinate anyone between six to 30 years who has not been vaccinated, with a special focus on babies aged over six months.

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