... Contributing to tourism development

MEDICAL OFFICER of Health for Clarendon, Dr Kimberly Scarlett-Campbell, noted that the success of vaccination in Jamaica has contributed to the development of tourism in the country.

“When our athletes leave to represent Jamaica, they are fully vaccinated. When foreigners come to Jamaica, they know that they are not coming to contract any type of vaccine-preventable diseases and this contributes to the growth of tourism in Jamaica because our citizens are well vaccinated,” Dr Scarlett-Campbell said.

Each year, as part of the weeklong commemoration, more than 40 countries and territories in the Americas collaborate to raise awareness on the importance of immunisation, making a special effort to reach people who may not have regular access to health services.

Dr Scarlett-Campbell noted that the health team vaccinated over 80 persons from the Canaan Heights community, while some 200 residents from the Bucknor community, both in Clarendon, were vaccinated.

She added that more than 170 persons from the fishing villages in Clarendon were vaccinated, and 66 workers from the National Solid Waste Management Authority received vaccines.

‘When vaccines are given, it produces antibodies which protect against diseases before diseases develop. If a certain proportion of the population is vaccinated, then less vaccine-preventable diseases would be circulating in the population, which is our goal.’