Until the end of March the Western Cape Department of Health’s school-based vaccination programme will once again visit schools to provide integrated immunisation aimed at reducing vaccine preventable diseases.
School health nurses will be visiting all public and special schools in the province to administer the routinely recommended human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as well as the measles vaccine.
According to the department the visits are part of its commitment to ensuring healthy and thriving children.
The HPV vaccine is being offered to girls in Grade 5 over the age of 10 years, and the measles vaccine to boys and girls under the age of 15.
According to the department the HPV vaccine protects against the most common causes of cervical and some other cancers.
Two doses are needed for the best protection.
These are given on two different days, five months apart.
The World Health Organization (WHO) approved the measles vaccine, which can safely be co-administered with other childhood vaccines from 9 months of age.
“Through the ongoing measles campaign, we aim to interrupt measles transmission among our communities,” the department said in a media statement.
“Children 6 months to 15 years of age are included for vaccination during the outbreak response and nationwide campaign.
Since the beginning of the year schools have been issuing consent forms so that parents and caregivers can sign to enable nurses to vaccinate eligible learners.
No learner will be vaccinated unless his or her parents or legal guardian has given permission through signing a consent form.
“Providing these vaccines at schools is one of the best ways to protect your child and the community from diseases which can cause severe illness,” says Sonia Botha, the coordinator of the Western Cape’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation.
“This eliminates many barriers, including travel and time demands for parents who often need to accompany their children to the clinic, in this way increasing accessibility.
“We hope to boost vaccine acceptability by providing access to trusted sources of information via school nurses or other officials, to meaningfully engage parents and address their concerns.”
Most side-effects from vaccination are minor and quickly disappear. Severe allergic reactions are rare.
If any reaction is severe or persistent, or if you are worried about your child contact your health-care professional.
