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MAJ President Dr. Brian James
By Kimone Witter
The Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) is urging parents and caregivers to not let their fear of the COVID-19 vaccines put the country at risk of the resurgence of other diseases and viruses.
MAJ President Dr. Brian James says he is not surprised, but concerned at the report from the Ministry of Health and Wellness that there is a marked decline in the rate of young children being immunised.
Reacting to the revelation, the MAJ president said "anti-vaxxers" may have won the COVID-19 vaccine fight, but cannot be allowed to win the fight against other vaccines.
"Jamaica is unusual in its very low uptake rate, which is kind of paradoxical. We were quite high in our uptake for other vaccines, but the world average is more than 50% - probably nearer to 60% - whereas our uptake is only 24%. So Jamaica is in a bad place where the COVID vaccination is concerned," he noted.
Dr. James said Jamaica's immunisation programme has been successful over the years and should not be allowed to decline further.
"The ministry will just have to ramp up its education campaign again in the same way that we actually got through to the point where we were among the leading uptakers of vaccine in the world. We can, through education, and there is legislation that speaks to this. So we have to make use of all the leverages that we have," he suggested.
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