An estimated 60,000 Haitian children under the age of five will receive life-saving immunization in the next few days.
This is part of the Vaccination Week of the Americas – an annual vaccination initiative covering 44 countries and territories in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
It starts on Saturday 1 May and will target the areas of Cornillon, Fonds Verettes, Gantier and Thomazeau in the country’s West Departement and Cayes Jacmel, Marigot, Anse à Pitre, Belle Anse, Grand Gosier and Hotte in the South East Departement adjacent to the border with the Dominican Republic.
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Following the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January, routine immunization efforts were severely affected; many health facilities were damaged or destroyed and interruptions to fuel and power supplies has had a major impact on health services.
Vaccination for mange sygdomme
Children will receive vaccinations against polio, diphtheria, tetanus (stivkrampe), whooping cough (kighoste), measles, and rubella (røde hunde).
Children will also receive vitamin A supplements and de-worming treatment.
Vaccinations will be undertaken at fixed centres and through outreach teams travelling to the most hard-to-reach communities.
A total of 146 groups of vaccinators will work on the campaign. – Vaccination is the most cost-effective life saver for children – but the human cost of not vaccinating a child is immeasurable, said UNICEF Representative in Haiti Ms. Francoise Gruloos-Ackermans.
This round of vaccinations will supplement an ongoing campaign that began in February and which has already reached more than 220,000 children under the age of eight in 687 locations in camps for displaced persons in Port au Prince, Léogâne, Petit Goâve, Grand Goâve and Gressier.
The vaccination drive in Haiti is being led by the Ministry of Health with the support of UNICEF, WHO and the Pan American Health Organization.
