Minister of Health, Dr Fenton Ferguson, says Jamaicans must look out for their children and protect their health and well-being. He says one of the best ways to do this is to ensure that they are protected against deadly vaccine preventable diseases by getting them fully immunised for their age.
"Jamaica has been very successful in eliminating local transmission of certain vaccine preventable diseases because of the strength of our immunisation programme. Even before the concept of no user fees, compulsory vaccines were and are still being offered at no cost for children. Parents should ensure that their children benefit from this as their lives may depend on it," Ferguson said.
He said in light of the present measles outbreak in the United States and Mexico, he wants parents to check Immunisation Cards and the Child Health and Development Passport to ensure that the vaccines that their children require for their age have been received.
"Although the outbreak in the US is of concern to us because it is close to our borders, there have been outbreaks in other areas and several countries across the world still experience cases of vaccine preventable diseases. We have seen how porous borders can be and the potential for diseases to spread from country to country, and so even without this present outbreak we have to be mindful of the importance of giving children these vaccines," he said.
The Health Minister says parents and caregivers should visit their community health centres to have their children immunised.
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