Measles Immunization and Child Health Days campaign 2010
Campaign diary day 4: 27 May 2010
In the first three days of the nationwide measles vaccination campaign, 1 281 629 children were immunized against the disease, or approximately 25% of the almost 5 million target (This figure is expected to change because reports received from the districts for day three are still incomplete). Almost 500 000 children also received vitamin A supplements.
Several teams of supervisors from the national level today started monitoring to make any needed adjustments to the campaign, which is due to end 2 June. This will involve observing aspects of vaccine monitoring, injection safety, waste management, social mobilization, data management and others. Conducting random household surveys will be an integral part of the monitoring so to assess if all eligible children in visited households have been vaccinated, such as by checking vaccination cards, marking or by history. This will enable districts to assess whether they are making good progress towards attaining their immunization targets.
All visited vaccination points had adequate vaccines, diluents, vaccine carriers and other logistics. Roving teams were in place to ensure that supplies were replenished daily both within districts and at provincial level.
Environmental health officers are collecting daily entries and taking them to the information officers who transmit them to the provincial and national levels. Outreach continues at community level, focussing mainly on schools. Some schools affected by the measles outbreak are interested in purchasing vaccines to immunize children above the target age group in this campaign. Districts have been advised to use discretion to respond to such requests, but all vaccines outside the current batch being used must be tested by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.
Dr Portia Manangazira, Director Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, participated in an early morning radio talk show, during which she assured members of the public of the safety and efficacy of the measles vaccine. The vaccine has been independently tested by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe. UNICEF Representative Dr Peter Salama was interviewed on the Good Morning Zimbabwe show where he reiterated the need for children to be vaccinated regardless of previous vaccination status. Dr Salama also addressed concerns about the safety of the vaccine.
The Minister of Health and Child Welfare and WHO are planning to hold a press conference on 28 May, during which an update of the numbers of children vaccinated so far is expected to be given. Any concerns that the public has about the campaign are also expected to be addressed.
Dialogue continues with hard-to-reach groups, including members of the Apostolic church and workers who are unable to take their children to be vaccinated because they are absent during the day. Community mobilizers are making efforts to meet with them and advise that the children be sent with their nannies and a permission slip. In addition, outreach teams plan to carry out vaccinations at churches on Sunday. Out of hours vaccination is being conducted at some posts to accommodate privacy concerns by Apostolics where possible. Immunization is also being carried out in their households.
Central level coordination is being led by the Cholera Command and Control Centre (C4). Similar structures at provincial and district level are also being used for coordination purposes. Daily meetings are being held at national, provincial and district levels to assess progress and trouble shoot.
For more information, please contact:
Wendy Julias
World Health Organization
+263 (4) 253 724
+263 (91) 243 1408
Email: JuliasW@zw.afro.who.int