To stop the spread of measles, the City of Ekurhuleni is pleading with parents of children between the ages of six months and 15 to provide their approval for vaccination.
By the end of March, the Gauteng Department of Health hopes to have immunised four million children. Currently, the Ekurhuleni region has immunised approximately 120 000 children.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that develops as body rush and flu-like symptoms.
According to Zweli Dlamini, the spread of measles will become more widespread the longer parents wait to sign consent forms for children attending schools or to take their children to local clinics for immunisations.
“Parents who may have immunised their children for measles at six months are encouraged to take them to the clinic for booster shots for increased protection from the disease,” Zweli concluded.