A(H1N1) campaign "successful"- Halabi

MPHO TLALE
Correspondent | Friday July 2, 2010 00:00

Only one case of reaction has so far been reported. Halabi says people understood the rationale behind the vaccination and came in large numbers. The first leg of the campaign, which was aimed at health workers, officers at ports of entry, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions aged between11 and 64, started on June 21 and ended on June 29.

Halabi says the campaign has been so successful that the only delay encountered was shortage of the vaccine.But Central Medical Stores (CMS) availed more vaccines and the situation was brought under control.

Only one case of a bad reaction to the vaccine has so far been reported and the situation is being monitored to determine the degree of the reaction.

Halabi says while figures have not yet been collated, the population targeted in the first phase was 314,728. The campaign will be flexible in order to allow those who did not get a chance during their phase to come forward.

Halabi says this does not, however, mean people should deliberately miss getting vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. The next phase, which will cover children from six months to 10 years, will start on July 5 and end on July13.

Although getting vaccinated is voluntary, Halabi appealed to members of the public to get the vaccine because it is meant for their own wellbeing. Regarding Bazezuru who cite religious grounds against vaccinations, she says the Ministry of Health (MoH) will continue educating them on the importance of public health.

- The first cases of A(H1N1) were reported in Mexico in May 2009 and the virus spread quickly around the world. Botswana's MoH is undertaking preventive measures on a nationwide scale partly because it did not do so last year.