- Health ministry introduces Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
The Belize Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) has added the paediatric pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to the national immunisation schedule, targeting children under the age of five.
PCV has been introduced into national vaccination programmes in 164 of 194 World Health Organisation member countries (84.5 percent), including Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, The Bahamas, Aruba, Anguilla, Jamaica, Montserrat, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, Brazil, Ecuador, and Colombia.
From 2018 to 2022, about 6,000 instances of pneumonia were identified in Belize. Children under the age of five and the elderly (60 and above) are the most vulnerable age groups.
The PCV vaccination protects against infection with the pneumococcus bacteria, which is one of the most prevalent causes of childhood pneumonia. It also protects against other pneumococcus infections, such as meningitis and bacteremia.
The paediatric PCV main immunisation schedule consists of three doses given at two, four, and six months of age. Two doses are advised for children aged 12 to 59 months. The dosages are separated by two months.
During mobile clinics and other outreach vaccination events, the PCV vaccine will be provided at health institutions in both urban and rural populations.
The Ministry of Health informs the public about the treatments available to prevent, protect, and treat children who are suffering from pneumonia. Routine immunisations (pertussis, measles, Hib, and PCV), exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, appropriate sanitation, and regular hand washing with soap are among them.
