World immunisation week gets going
JOBURG – World immunisation weeks is all about knowing the importance of immunisations, here are some reasons why they should not be taken lightly.
World Immunisation Week is celebrated from 24 to 30 April and aims to create awareness around the importance of full immunisation.
This year marks the halfway point for The Global Vaccination Action Plan (GVAP), which was endorsed by the World Health Organisation (Who) in May 2012 and aims to prevent millions of deaths by 2020 through more widespread access to vaccines.
Vaccines work by exposing the body to a small but safe amount of the germ causing the disease.This allows the body’s immune system to build a defence against the germ, so that it is prepared when next exposed.
The South African national expanded programme on immunization (EPI) schedule includes vaccines against 11 potentially life-threatening diseases, with dosing recommendations between birth and 12 years of age.
It’s important to remember that vaccines don’t end with childhood.
For example, The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for administration between the ages of nine and 45, with more specific age recommendations dependent on gender and vaccine choice.
HPV is the most common infection of the reproductive tract. It can cause cervical cancer, other types of cancer and genital warts, in males and females. In South Africa, cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 15 to 44 years. Two HPV vaccines are available in South Africa. Both vaccines are highly efficacious at preventing infection with virus types 16 and 18, which are responsible for approximately 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases globally.
The other important vaccination to remember is that which protects against herpes-zoster, more commonly known as shingles.
Shingles is a re-activation of the chickenpox virus, and often causes a painful blistering rash.The associated pain can be very severe and may persist even after the rash has resolved.
History has proven that vaccinations are safe and effective, with potential for global benefits. However, it is still up to us to take responsibility for our own health and the health of our children, to ensure that vaccines are administered appropriately during the different stages of our lives.
Visit your local clinic and do the right thing.
Details: Weltevreden Park Clinic, 011 679 362; Windsor East Clinic, 011 678 7017; Westbury Clinic, 011 673 1002
