Measles vaccinations to be accelerated in Ekurhuleni

The City of Ekurhuleni will accelerate the vaccination of children against measles after 16 confirmed cases were detected so far this year.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that is spread through airborne respiratory droplets from an infected person when they cough or sneeze.
Metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini pointed out that the first measles cases in Gauteng were reported on December 6 by a health facility in Ekurhuleni.

These three cases fell into the five to nine age group. All had unknown vaccination statuses.
The Gauteng Department of Health started the vaccination campaign in Ekurhuleni on December 28. Some 39 722 children were vaccinated by January 20.

The aim is to immunise a million children between the ages of six months and 15 years.
Furthermore, the ongoing measles vaccination campaign will see the City’s healthcare practitioners visit pre-schools, primary schools, and high schools to administer the vaccines to the unvaccinated targeted age groups.

All clinics in the CoE provide vaccination against measles for children aged between six months and 15 years.

The signs and symptoms of measles include:
• flu-like symptoms such as high fever, coughing and sneezing;
• conjunctivitis (pink eye) and coryza (runny nose);
• fatigue or muscle pain; and
• red maculopapular (blotchy) rash.
Children younger than one year could develop complicated measles, which includes:
• bronchopneumonia;
• keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva of the eyes); and rarely
• encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

These complications could lead to irreversible damage or death, especially in immuno-compromised and malnourished children.

According to the South African Expanded Programme on Immunisation, children are given the measles vaccine at six months old and a booster at 12 months.
These vaccines are free of charge at public healthcare facilities.

Also Read:Vaccines relevant to the older person