Catching up on Child Wellness

Western Cape Government Health will embark on an immunisation catch-up drive during the week of 7 to 13 February 2015. The catch-up is aimed specifically at those children under five years, who, for whatever reason, may have missed any of their immunisations.

The Department has identified areas where there is a high number of migration, high poverty and other social issues as the focus areas. Health teams will visit these communities and crèches to ensure that all children under the age of five years have had all their immunisations. Only those children whose immunisations are not up to date will receive immunisation. You need not visit the clinic if your child’s immunisations are up to date.

Parents who are referred should remember to take their child’s ROAD TO HEALTH booklet (clinic book) along to the clinic with them.

If you are unsure as to whether or not your child’s immunisations are up to date, or you do not live in an area that will be visited by the health teams, please ask the nurse to check for you.

Newly appointed Western Cape Minister of Health, Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, stated: ‘Our statistics show that up until l4 weeks of age parents routinely bring their babies to their clinic as prescribed for check-ups and immunisations. After this age, we see a marked decrease in clinic attendance, possibly because moms return to work. This means that baby does not receive the vital follow-up immunisations. I want to encourage parents to keep their Road to Health booklet ready or to send it along to your child’s crèche, thus ensuring that the healthcare team can check that your child is up to date. Our children have so many challenges during their lives, it makes sense to do your best to keep them healthy – all it takes is six visits to your local clinic. An immunised child has the best chance of staying healthy.’

Vaccination remains the cheapest, most effective manner in which to prevent the spread of dangerous childhood illnesses such as measles, TB and polio. These vaccinations are offered free of charge at all clinics – all that parents have to do is visit their clinic as advised by the health carer.

All children should receive the following vaccines:

• At birth, the healthcare worker will administer polio drops and a TB vaccination before you and your baby leave the maternity ward.

• At six, ten and 14 weeks after birth, parents should take their babies to the clinic for further immunisations. These immunisations are to protect your child against:   Measles, Pertussis, Diphtheria, Tetanus(lock jaw), Hepatitis B and Pneumonia. An immunisation to prevent Rota-virus , which is a kind of virus that causes diarrhea is administered.
• At nine months, measles  immunisation and ‘Prevenar PCV’, which protects against some dangerous infections, like meningococcal meningitis
• At 18 months old.  The second Measles immunisation is given and polio drops administered
• At 6 years of age before starting grade 1.  This vaccine protects against Diphtheria and Tetanus, polio drops are administered

By the time your baby is 18 months old, he or she should have received vaccination that protects him/her from 10 dangerous childhood illnesses.

Western Cape Government Health has an agreement with Clicks and Dis-chem pharmacies, whereby parents can take their children to these pharmacies for their vaccinations. There is a minimal administrative fee.  Parents can contact their closest Clicks or Dis-Chem for more information on this service.