Minister of Health,Dr. Fenton Ferguson, says that Jamaica has made significant strides towards attaining universal immunisation coverage for all children, with 100 per cent coverage of tuberculosis (BCG) last year.
Also in 2011, the country achieved 92 per cent coverage for polio, diphtheria, pertussis or whooping cough and tetanus (DPT), hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B (HIB), and 88 per cent coverage for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).
The figures, he said, represents an improvement over the country's performance in 2009, which showed 94 per cent coverage for BCG, 91 per cent for polio, DPT, Hep B and HIB and 87 per cent coverage for MMR.
Speaking at the official launch of Vaccination Week in the Americas on Tuesday April 24, Dr. Ferguson said Jamaica’s achievements in immunisation coverage has not gone unnoticed and has resulted in the country copping the 2011 Henry Smith Cup for excellence in improvement in the EPI.
He is urging parents to ensure that their children are fully immunised by utilising the primary health care system.
Vaccination Week in the Americas is observed annually during the last week of April in more than 30 countries throughout the Americas.
It is being observed under the theme, ‘Vaccination: An Act of Love – For Me, For You, For Everyone. Get Vaccinated’.
The purpose of the week is to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and to target at risk groups, hard to reach and marginalised populations for vaccination while continuing efforts to improve routine immunisation coverage in children.
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