The United Nations health agency has urged parents in China to protect their children against an early death and long-term liver problems by having them vaccinated against measles and hepatitis B (leverbetændelse).
The appeal was made at a joint press briefing by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the Chinese health ministry ahead of China’s National Immunization Day on Sunday. The theme of this year’s immunization day is: “You and Me Together – Measles Elimination and Hepatitis B Control.”
Globally, measles is a leading cause of death among young children even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine exists. WHO estimates that the highly contagious viral disease caused 733,000 deaths worldwide in 2000. Between 2000 and 2008, measles vaccination resulted in a 78 per cent decline in measles-related deaths around the world.
“China is strongly committed to eliminating measles,” said Lisa Cairns, who heads the Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) team at WHO office in China. “In 2010, a vaccination campaign throughout the country will help China to stop transmission of measles. The decision to conduct this campaign was taken in consultation with WHO and is based on the success of similar national campaigns in other countries,” she added.
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