SKN parents urged to vaccinate their children against polio & MMR
Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, has urged parents to vaccinate their children against preventable diseases such as polio and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
Drew, who is also the health minister, made the plea as he launched the annual Vaccination and Immunisation Week (VWA) with the theme “Get up to date. #EachVaccineCounts.””Vaccines are safe and effective in saving lives!” All vaccines provided under the national EPI program in St Kitts and Nevis were obtained through the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) revolving Fund. Vaccines obtained this way fulfill internationally recommended quality, safety, and efficacy requirements for development, manufacturing, transportation, and control,” he stated.
“The Ministry of Health is urging parents to do everything possible to ensure that their infants and children are vaccinated on time.” Infants are most vulnerable to communicable infections since their immune systems are not fully established at birth.”
Drew stated that the Americas are experiencing new measles outbreaks despite being declared measles-free in 2016. Recently, two persons in Peru and the United States tested positive for polio.
He claimed that many youngsters in the region are vulnerable to MMR infection because they did not receive their vaccines in 2020 and 2021.
“In 2022, the MMR1 coverage rate in Saint Kitts and Nevis was 95%, and the MMR2 coverage rate was 93%.” The public health team’s goal throughout this VWA campaign is to target defaulters in order to boost coverage to 95% or higher. “Measles and polio vaccines are critical for protecting our children and loved ones,” the Prime Minister added.