New vaccine cuts cases by 70% – minister

THE pneumococcal vaccine, introduced in South African clinics in 2009, has reduced the number of children contracting illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis by 70%, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told parliament.

Motosoaledi presented his budget speech on Tuesday, in which he requested a 7.4% increase to R33.46-billion. However he said measures to prevent disease rather than just treat it were largely ignored.

Two new vaccines, the pneumococcal and the rotavirus vaccine, had been mon- itored by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases since their inclusion in clinics.

Pneumococcal diseases – the leading cause of death among children under five worldwide – were down by 70% among children under five, while rotavirus hospital admissions in children aged up to two were down 66%.

Rotavirus leads to diarrhoea, which then leads to serious dehydration in children.

“The NICD did a cost-benefit analysis and arrived at staggering figures – one shot of vaccine for pneumococcus is R600, but to treat pneumonia will cost R6 930, and to treat meningitis will cost R17 903.”

The R400-million invested annually in the HPV vaccine for young girls would only start to pay dividends in 20 or 30 years.

His department’s ability to do its job effectively hinged on the implementation of National Health Insurance, the outcome of the Competition Commission investigation into the cost of private health care and medico-legal litigation issues.

The DA’s Wilmot James said while the country was a third of the way through the implementation of the NHI, there was still no official policy. The public was being asked to write a blank cheque, he said.