Cape Town: The City Health Department has noted a decrease in child vaccinations, in comparison to the previous years. The World Vaccination Week is reaching to its closure, considering which the parents are reminded to take advantage of the extra week off school and get their children’s vaccinated regularly.
The City Health urged parents to vaccinate the young children as immunisation rates slightly drops. The World Vaccination Week is commemorated during the last week of the April, every year. Between July 2024 and March 2025, the City Health administered 310,786 doses of vaccines to children up until the age of 12.
The data recorded was more than 2.6% lower than the corresponding period of the previous year. As the number of fully immersed children under the age of one declined by a similar margin.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham said that the decreases are marginal, yet ideal. They want to see the growth year-on-year so that they can improve their immunity against illnesses, some of which can be fatal.
Higham mentioned that, in recent years, they had outbreaks of measles and diphtheria, considering the sure signs that there is room to improve the immunisation coverage. The children received most of their vaccinations in their first year of life.
Moreover, Francine Higham encouraged parents to ensure that they remain on track for their child’s well-being and that of those around them. The parents and caregivers are advised to reach out to their nearest clinic for more information and guidance.
To provide a good health service, South Africa has a specific dedicated vaccination schedule that they follow:
- The BCG or Bacillus Calmette Guerin vaccine protects against severe TB. It is administered at birth or the six-week visit.
- The second one is, OPV or Oral Polio Vaccine that protects against polio, which attacks nerves, causing weaknesses or paralysis of the leg or arm, and in more severe cases, it involves the respiratory muscles. The vaccination is given at birth, 6, 10 and 14 weeks.
- The RV or Rotavirus Vaccine protects against diarrhoea that is caused by the rotavirus. The vaccine is given at 6 and 14 weeks.
- The DTaP-IPV-HiB-HBV Vaccines protect against Diphtheria, Tetanus, pertussis, Polio, haemophilus Influenza Type-B and Hepatitis-B. it is given at 6, 10 and 14 weeks.
- The PCV or Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine protects against meningitis, otitis media (an ear infection), pneumonia and bacteraemia (a bacterial infection in the blood). It is given at 6 and 14 weeks and at 9 months.
- The Measles Vaccine protects against measles, an infection that can lead to diarrhoea and dehydration, deafness, eye complications, pneumonia, brain damage and even death. It’s vaccination is given at 6 months and 1 year.