MBABANE – The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), aims for a 95 percent measles-rubella vaccination target amid outbreaks in South Africa and Mozambique.
The campaign was announced during a press briefing on Friday with officials providing updates on the situation.
Xolisile Dlamini from the Ministry of Health stated that a nationwide vaccination drive will run from Monday, August 4 to August 15.
Parents are urged to vaccinate their children from nine months to 18 months within available health centres and provided mobile units during the period.
WHO’s Dr Angel Dlamini emphasized the necessity of the vaccination campaign ahead of schools closing for the second term next week.
“Migration will be very fast. Our borders are porous. We know that transmission might be as fast as we haven’t anticipated it,” Dlamini said.
Health officials say if the ‘noticeable outbreak in South Africa and Mozambique’ could be replayed, it could be overwhelming. The last measles-rubella outbreak was recorded in 2009/2010 where a number of children died, including clinicians.
Global measles deaths are estimated at 107,500 in 2023, over 95 percent being children under five years old. Though it’s an eight percent decrease in deaths compared to 2022, there is currently a 20 percent rise in measles cases.
Rubella remains a leading cause of preventable congenital defects with 100,000 cases of CRS annually.
Measles-rubella is contagious with person-to-person or direct contact transmission. It is also airborne.
The most measles complications include pneumonia – the first most common cause of death, diarrhoea and blindness.
Transmission takes between seven to 14 days after exposure. Its symptoms include fever (peaks at 39°– 40.5 °C), rash cough, runny nose and red eyes.
Two doses of the MR vaccine are administered to ensure high population immunity.
A 95 percent of the population’s vaccination is necessary for immunity. When population immunity is high and transmission of measles virus is interrupted, susceptibles do not get measles, health specialists said.
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