City’s immunisation drive contains spread of measles
JOBURG – The campaign had initially been aimed at children under the age of five but was later extended to include those between the ages of five to 14
More than 440 000 children under five years were immunised during a six-week emergency measles vaccination campaign across Johannesburg to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
According to the City of Joburg communications specialist Dudu Lushaba, the immunisation campaign was launched after 14 cases were confirmed in the City of Johannesburg in March.
The City of Johannesburg’s Deputy Director of Public Health Dr Mary Daka said the campaign was highly successful as her department had aimed at reaching at least 95 per cent of the 350 000 children under five years it had targeted.
“The achievement represents 124 per cent of our target. This is a resounding success and I’m very pleased about it,” said Daka.
“The city ran the campaign from May 15 to June 30 after a directive from the National Department of Health following a reported increase in the number of confirmed measles cases in Gauteng.”
Lenasia was identified as a hotspot.
The campaign had initially been aimed at children under the age of five but was later extended to include those between the ages of five and 14.
The drive covered a total of 3 728 learning institutions – 2 492 early childhood development centres (ECDs), 807 primary schools and 429 high schools.
“The six-week immunisation drive was aimed at children in ECDs, public and private schools, health facilities as well as at pre-identified hotspots,” she said.
Daka said measles is a highly infectious and notifiable viral disease whose symptoms include high fever, feeling unwell, coughing, runny nose and teary eyes, which occur two or three days before a rash breaks out.
“If left untreated it can lead to complications including blindness, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and death.”
She said her team faced many challenges during the campaign.
“There were delays in the delivery of campaign materials, schools were preparing for exams, there were religious issues to consider, data issues, human resources, protest action in some areas and the relatively high targets to be met,” she said.
Daka added that there were inherent adverse events following the immunisation drive.
“A nine-year-old boy collapsed after the process in Yeoville, but quickly recovered after interventions. A six-year-old girl also reacted after the injection in Parkhurst but quickly recovered after management,” she said.
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