‘Delaying immunisation places children at risk’

HEALTH experts are concerned about immunisation rates as 17.1% of children under the age of one have not been vaccinated in the 2020/2021 period and this increased by 0.2% during 2021/2022.

This comes as the world celebrates Immunization Week.

A paediatrician at Melomed Tokai Hospital, Dr Mandy-Lyn Meyer, said without vaccination children were at risk of illnesses which were completely preventable.

“Vaccine-preventable diseases, like pertussis or measles, are more severe in infants and young children than in older children and teenagers. Delaying or not immunising your child places vulnerable groups at risk. Every parent only wants the best for their child and vaccination offers a means of avoiding disease and illness before it occurs.”

She recommended discussing any concerns regarding immunisation with a medical provider.

“They should be able to provide you with information on benefits, limitations, side effects, and guide you through any questions you may have.

“Ensure that when you make decisions, that you gather information from reliable scientific sources. There is a lot of false information out there, which can be very confusing,” Meyer added.

A paediatrician at Paarl Hospital, Dr Jaco Murray, said: “Immunisation coverage tends to be very good in the first few months after birth, but gradually decreases as children get older and caregivers forget to take them for follow-up immunisations.

“Reasons for missed clinic visits usually include vaccine hesitancy, lack of information about vaccination safety, loss of Road to Health booklets and other circumstances leading to missed appointments.”

Senior director at the South African Medical Research Council Charles

Wiysonge said immunisation was one of the most successful public health interventions in history.

“It is therefore a pity that immunisation coverage in children under one year of age is dropping year on year. The concentrated efforts to control the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed.

“That said, it is fair to admit that there are many barriers and facilitators which affect childhood immunisation coverage, from the logistics of ensuring access and availability of services to the psycho-social factors that influence

service-seeking behaviours and individual and community-level acceptance. “Immunisation of children will save them against infectious diseases that can cause serious illness and disability or be fatal. Do not hesitate, vaccinate your children,” he said.

Provincial Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever said all their districts had already started catching up on immunisations.

“We have also worked with private partners in providing immunisations at private clinics. In addition, clinics in the metro have created ‘overflow sites’ attending to clients.

“As with all services, there was a drop-off in immunisations but our services have already done incredibly well in catching up on child immunisations. The Department of Health strongly advises mothers to protect their children from infectious diseases by getting them vaccinated from birth to when they are 12.

“Vaccination is free of charge at all government/state health facilities,” he said.

| FILE PARENTS are advised to discuss any concerns regarding immunisation with a medical practitioner.