Jamaica achieves highest vaccination coverage

Jamaica has achieved its highest vaccination coverage over the past six years.

   

According to recent data, the vaccination of  at least 95 per cent of  the population is required to protect against vaccine preventable diseases. 

   

Information from the Health Ministry for 2016, shows that for children between birth and 11 months: 96 per cent received the BCG Vaccine; 99 per cent received the third dose of  the Polio Vaccine while the third dose of  the Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus (DPT) Vaccine was given to 99 per cent, 98 per cent of  the children received the Hepatitis B Vaccine.

   

For children 12 to 23 months: 95 per cent received their first Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and 85 per cent the second dose of  MMR.

   

The Health Ministry says the target was not met for MMR2. 

   

It says coverage for all vaccines was the highest it has been for the period 2010 to 2016 except for BCG. 

                                                       

And the parishes that achieved the highest vaccination coverage rates were St. Ann, Clarendon, Trelawny as well as St. James.

   

The Health Ministry says parishes of  concern were St. Catherine, Manchester, Portland and St. Elizabeth.

   

Parishes in which regional referral hospitals are situated, Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. James as well as Manchester had the highest coverage rates for BCG which is given at birth.

   

Parishes that have small populations and Type C hospitals had the lowest rates for this vaccine.