New Vaccines Introduced in South Sudan to Protect Children
South Sudan’s national immunization program has introduced additional vaccines this year to protect children from measles, pneumonia, and diarrhea, as the country marks African Vaccination Week.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!New Vaccines Introduced
The new vaccines introduced with the support of World Health Organization, UNICEF, and global Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) are the Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine (PCV), the Rotavirus vaccine, and the second dose of Measles-Containing Vaccine (MCV2).
Benefits of the Vaccines
PCV vaccine protects against infections caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), while the Rotavirus vaccine protects against severe diarrhea in young children. The Measles Vaccine (MCV2) helps prevent the spread of measles.
Importance of Vaccination
Undersecretary in the Ministry of Health Dr. Anin Ngot Mou emphasized the importance of vaccination and encouraged the people of South Sudan to take an active role in getting vaccinated to protect themselves and their families.
Celebrating African Vaccination Week
South Sudan will celebrate African Vaccination Week under the theme “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible” from 24th to 30th April. This year’s commemoration coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).
Progress in Immunization
Over the years, South Sudan has introduced various life-saving vaccines through its immunization program. These efforts have been supported by partners like WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi to combat vaccine-preventable diseases and save lives.
Challenges and Initiatives
Despite ongoing routine vaccination efforts, the program has faced challenges such as outbreaks of measles, yellow fever, cholera, and cVDPV2. To address these challenges, the government and partners have launched the ‘Big Catch-Up’ vaccination initiative to reach children who have missed routine vaccinations.
Call to Action
As part of the campaign, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and WHO are working together to intensify vaccination efforts and reach children who have not received any routine vaccines. Vaccination remains the most cost-effective tool to save lives and protect communities from diseases.
