GREAT BAY:--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is preparing for its third Vaccination Community Outreach for the month of May. The outreach is scheduled for Saturday, May 26 from 9.00am to 12.30pm and will focus on the age group 4-17. The outreach will take place at the Vineyard Office Park in Philipsburg.
CPS, a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, held its’ second Vaccination Outreach for 2018 which took place on April 7th and was deemed a success.
The second Vaccination Outreach had a large turnout. A total of 129 visitors attended the outreach of which 109 children were vaccinated. To facilitate clients, staff of Youth Health Care (YHC) worked beyond the outreach closure time to reach out to the parents and children.
Some children however, were not able to receive their vaccination and was given an appointment to return at a later date at their convenience. Children within the age group 6-8 and 11-17 accounted for the most vaccinated group within the School Vaccination Program.
Schools received invitations to visit the outreach, targeting children who are due or that are not up to date with their vaccinations. Primary Schools such as Martin Luther King Jr, Marie Genevieve, MAC 1 & 2 and the Seventh Day Adventist responded well to the invitations.
The first Vaccination Outreach was held on March 24th and attended to 52 children who received their due vaccines of which 44 were in the age category of under 4-years, and eight were in the age group 4 thru 17-years. This first outreach focused on babies and toddlers (age 0-4years).
The Vaccination Program Outreach initiatives aims to help bring immunization-delayed infants and young children up-to-date with their vaccination schedule. In addition, an opportunity to inform parents on vaccines offered within the program and the benefits and importance of such.
Vaccines help your immune system fight more than 20 dangerous diseases. From the time we’re born, vaccines offer protection to help individuals stay healthy throughout their entire lives.
Evidence continues to show that vaccination is one of the safest, most cost-effective ways to prevent diseases and death.
Within the Region, many countries are on alert for Measles. Measles is a serious and contagious disease caused by a virus and is spread from person to person through the air. It can cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death. Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles.
For more information call CPS at 542-3003 or 542-3553.