National Immunisation Awareness Week 2008

More than 70% of developing countries successfully introduced an immunisation programme. South Africa follows the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended immunisation schedule whereby infants are routinely vaccinated against the nine major childhood diseases that can cause serious complications and even death.

A recent study showed that children who had not received the measles vaccine were 35 times more likely to get the disease. Parents can protect their children against death and serious diseases by means of immunisation.

It has been proved in research trials and efficacy measures that immunisation is the most effective public health intervention. Immunisations currently save three million lives per year worldwide, and remain one of the most cost effective health interventions. According to WHO every dollar spent on vaccine saves seven dollars in medical costs which would mean in South African terms that every R10 spent on vaccines saves R70 in medical costs. South Africa devotes more than R80-million annually to vaccinate children countrywide.

South African parents should be updated on the important information about immunisation, its national schedule and changes to the schedule such as on 1 February 2008 when South Africa switched one of its EPI vaccines. The Dt (diphtheria-tetanus) that was given to children at age 5 was replaced by the Td (tetanus- diphtheria) vaccine, which is now given to children at age 6 and 12. The rationale behind this was to replace the 5-dose EPI schedule with of tetanus vaccination with a recommended 6-dose schedule from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

All children have the right to basic health care and therefore in South Africa children are immunised for free against most diseases at public local clinics and community health centres. SAMA is committed to the eradication and elimination of childhood diseases and strongly supports the efforts implemented by the National Health Department. Refer to the schedule or contact your nearest clinic or primary healthcare centre for more information on immunisation.

Sources:
http://www.savic.ac.za/news/newsarticle.php
http://www.doh.gov.za