Parents alarmed by measles vaccine side effects

The measles rubella vaccination drive, which ended nearly two weeks ago, seems to have caused alarming side effects on some children in Botswana.

Botswana had embarked on a 12-day accelerated immunisation drive against the measles known as motshweetshwee in Setswana in an effort to reduce morbidity and mortality in children under the age of five. The Ministry of Health and Wellness recently noted during a media update that a total of 220 000 children in Botswana have been immunised against measles rubella, from the 240, 000 target. Some of the common side effects of the vaccine in children include diarrhoea, fever, rash, and loss of appetite among others, according to some parents who spoke to this publication. One parent who spoke to The Midweek Sun, Tlamelo Mosebetsi, said her child had started falling sick after being inoculated. “She was fine before she was given the injection but later in the afternoon, I noticed that she had a fever and she seemed weak and tired. She also refused to sleep and was irritable. I took her to the clinic the next morning and they gave her Panado. “But she didn’t get better, and I took her to a private health facility where she was examined. I was told it was probably a side-effect of the vaccine and advised to monitoring her progress at home.” Another parent who didn’t want their identity revealed said their child had a runny tummy the evening after taking the vaccine and she suspected it was a side-effect because the child had been in good health before then. “In the evening after our visit to the clinic, she had a runny tummy and complained of a headache. I went back to the clinic to query but the nurses dismissed me. If she does not get well, I am taking up the matter with the ministry.” The parent complained that parents and guardians should have been informed on possible side effects of the vaccine to avoid alarm. “As much as we were informed about the benefits of the vaccine, there also should have been awareness and education on the possible sideeffects and how to deal with them”.

While this publication could not get a response from the Ministry of Health regarding the matter, an insider in the health fraternity, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, said there have been no severe cases or even deaths related to the vaccine reported as yet, and they could be mild. “Vaccines generally have side-effects on some children, but it is rarely deadly. If at all there have been reported deaths related to the vaccine, then stern action should be taken.” Common side effects of the measles rubella vaccine cited by World Health Organisation (WHO) include swelling, redness and fever. WHO indicates that side-effects of six to 10 days include a measleslike rash, loss of appetite and fever, while two to three weeks side-effects might include fever and swollen glands, rash and an increased temperature. The contagious measles rubella, which is reportedly high in sub-Saharan countries, is highly contagious and some signs of infection include fever, headaches and rashes. Measles rubella is caused by a paramyxovirus that is spread through close contact or by air.

The virus infects the respiratory tract and spreads across the body. While the disease is fatal, WHO says immunisation has reportedly prevented an estimated 23.2 million deaths between 2000 and 2018.