Rubella vaccine for children effective September
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Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The primary symptom of rubella virus infection is the appearance of a rash (exanthem) on the face, which spreads to the trunk and limbs and usually fades after three days. Other symptoms include low grade fever, swollen glands (post auricular, cervical, sub-occipital lymphadenopathy), joint pains, headache,conjunctivitis and abnormalities in newborns.
The introduction of the rubella vaccine now increases the number of diseases children below one year old are protected against to 12.
Presently, children below one year are protected against 11 diseases, namely tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus and hepatitis ‘B.’ The rest are those caused by haemophilus influenza type ‘B’, pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles and yellow fever.
The Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Dr Kwadwo Odei Antwi-Agyei, who disclosed this in an interview, explained that the introduction of the rubella vaccine had become necessary because the Ghana Health Service wanted to reduce the incidence of congenital rubella syndrome which manifests as abnormalities in children.
“The effect of rubella infection on people is usually mild and the disease can go away within a few days when affected; however, it becomes dangerous when the infection occurs in pregnant women because it can affect their unborn babies. When it occurs in early pregnancy, it can result in malformation and congenital abnormalities such as cataract, small head, heart disease and hearing impairment in children,” he explained.
Dr Antwi-Agyei said about 90 per cent vaccination coverage was needed to reduce the disease incidence and that was why both boys and girls would be vaccinated.
In response to a question as to whether the many vaccines given to children would not affect them, the Programme Manager of EPI said the vaccines rather protect children from diseases and added that millions of children were being killed by such diseases.
“Immunisation also reduces under five deaths and protects children from the particular diseases that they are vaccinated against.”
He admonished school heads who were in the habit of preventing health officials from immunising their pupils to desist from the act, adding that it is an offence under the Children’s Act and the laws of Ghana to deprive children of essential services, including health or education.
“It is illegal to prevent a child from being vaccinated,” he cautioned.
By Augustina Tawiah
