Children and teens came out in large numbers to check their vaccination status and to receive their due vaccines.
PHILIPSBURG--Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is preparing for its third Vaccination Community Outreach this year, at the Vineyard Office Park in Philipsburg on Saturday, May 26, from 9:00am to 12:30pm, focussing on the age group 4-17.
CPS, a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA, held its second Vaccination Outreach for 2018 on April 7 and it was deemed a success.
The second Vaccination Outreach had a large turnout. A total of 129 visitors attended the outreach, of whom 109 children were vaccinated. To facilitate clients, Youth Health Care (YHC) staff worked beyond the outreach closure time to reach out to the parents and children. However, some children were not able to receive their vaccinations and were given an appointment to return at a later date at their convenience.
Children within the age groups 6-8 and 11-17 accounted for the most vaccinated groups within the School Vaccination Programme. Schools received invitations to visit the outreach, targeting children who are due for or are not up to date with their vaccinations. Primary Schools such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Marie Genevieve, Methodist Agogic Centre 1 & 2 and the Seventh-Day Adventist responded well to the invitations.
The first Vaccination Outreach was held on March 24 and attended to 52 children who received their due vaccines, of whom 44 were in the age category under 4 years and eight were in the age group 4-17 years. This first outreach focused on babies and toddlers (ages 0-4 years).
The Vaccination Programme Outreach aims to help bring immunisation-delayed infants and young children up to date with their vaccination schedules. In addition, it is an opportunity to inform parents on vaccines offered within the programme and the benefits and importance of such.
Vaccines help one’s immune system fight more than 20 dangerous diseases. From the time one is born, vaccines offer protection to help an individual stay healthy throughout his or her entire lives. Evidence continues to show that vaccination is one of the safest, most cost-effective ways to prevent diseases and death.
Within the region, many countries are on alert for measles. Measles is a serious and contagious disease caused by a virus, and is spread from person to person through the air. It can cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and even death. Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles.
For more information call CPS at 542-3003 or 542-3553.
