By Cathy Buffonge
BRADES, Montserrat: The immunization programme here in Montserrat continues to show close to 100% coverage of infants and children under 5, according to Community Nursing Manager Violet Brown. The immunization programme follows the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which Montserrat, along with other English speaking Caribbean countries, has been following for many years.
Infants under one year are immunized against diphtheria, tetanus and Pertussis (DPT), hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae. These five vaccines are combined into a Pentavalent vaccine, which reduces the number of shots for the children. This age group also receive polio drops given by mouth, as well as BCG vaccine against tuberculosis. During their second year they are vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), as well as receiving boosters for some of the others. Boosters of certain vaccines are also given at around four and a half years and fifteen years of age.
This regime ensures that the island has a well protected child population. Montserrat has quite a large migrant population but this is not a problem, since children arriving on the island are added to the system and their vaccines updated as necessary. Tetanus boosters are needed every ten years, and Nursing Manager Brown, who is also EPI Manager, is encouraging adults to come for these booster shots so that they too can remain protected. MMR is also offered to adults if they did not receive it as children.
Rubella (German measles) is part of the MMR vaccine, and Montserrat has not had a case of Rubella for many years. This vaccine is particularly important, since pregnant mothers exposed to it can give birth to babies with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), which features a number of possible defects, including deafness. Immunization specialist Dr Beryl Irons of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) points out that it is therefore crucial to continue immunizing children against rubella, well before they move into the reproductive age group.
At a recent workshop, nurses and other health care workers received an update on vaccines in current use and vaccine preventable diseases, as well as information on additional vaccines that are available. The EPI programme is in use throughout the world, and in our Caribbean region CAREC ensures that its member countries are kept up to date on immunization issues, and encourages them to follow the recommended immunization schedules.
In Montserrat the immunization programme is a well accepted part of local life, and over the years has helped to keep the population healthy. However continued vigilance is always necessary, so workshops such as this are a vital ingredient of a successful immunization programme.
CAREC, which was formed in 1975, is based in Trinidad, It is administered by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which is WHO’s regional office for the Americas. CAREC has twenty-one member countries, comprising the English and Dutch speaking countries of the Caribbean. It is dedicated to improving health and preventing disease in the Caribbean through technical cooperation, service, training and research.
« Montserrat’s Amateur Basketball Association Announces Goals for 2008 | Home | Coffee Break Episode 1 »
Related posts:
- Place related post plugin php here...
You must be logged in to post a comment.
