Barbados is one flight away from the return of measles, polio and rubella, a senior health official has warned, as polyclinics across the island opened their doors for Vaccination Week in the Americas amid falling immunisation rates and mounting outbreaks abroad.
The initiative was not only about vaccines, but also about rebuilding public confidence and awareness, said Medical Officer of health Dr Carl Ward at an open day at the Frederick Miller Polyclinic in Glebe, St George.
“The purpose of the open days across the polyclinic system [is] to tie in with the Pan American Health Organisation or PAHO’s Vaccination Week in the Americas. What we’re trying to do is, raise our vaccine numbers, get vaccines out there, get people comfortable with our vaccine programmes and what we’re up to.”
While vaccines remained the focus, he stressed that the clinics were using the opportunity to highlight the full range of services available.
“It’s not just the vaccines … There are a lot of other allied health services that we offer at the polyclinics, and they are fully integrated, trying to let people see what the polyclinics have to offer … people don’t realise that we have podiatry … they don’t realise there’s a full-fledged mental health clinic going on right now as we speak.”
Despite some progress since the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Ward acknowledged that vaccination numbers were still not where they should be.
“The numbers really need to improve … we have definitely seen improvements … but we’re not necessarily where we would like to be yet across the board.”
He warned that global declines in vaccination coverage were already having consequences:
“Across the world … there are major outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases … polio, measles, German measles or rubella … some big countries like the United States, like Canada … have lost their certification of being free of those diseases … it’s only a matter of time … that somebody comes here on a plane and then you hear measles has reached Barbados.”
At the Branford Taitt Polyclinic in St Michael, Senior Health Sister Rosanette Cooke also emphasised the importance of education, particularly for parents:
“So as we say, the new and the old … even dealing with a pregnant mom … you have to get to a mommy before you can get to a baby to get to vaccination. So this basically is where it would have all started.”
She explained that the vaccination process was supported by guidance for parents at every step.
“When children come … we go through teaching sessions with the mummies so that they’re aware of what vaccines the children should be getting, side effects that may be expected … usually that’s often a little pain in the arm … it’s as simple as that. Nothing more … and the vaccines are all safe.”
For some parents, the open day provided the push needed to act.
“I came today to get my son … vaccinated,” said Tamika Drayton at the Frederick Miller Polyclinic. “It is important to safeguard him and also for others that haven’t been vaccinated as well … I just put my feelings aside and come and get it done.”
Ky-rie Drayton and his mother Tamika Drayton
Open days continue across the island until Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m,, with activities moving to Winston Scott Polyclinic on Thursday, Eunice Gibson Polyclinic on Friday, and several locations including David Thompson Health and Social Services Clinic and Maurice Byer Polyclinic on Monday.
Public health fairs are also scheduled for Saturday at Emerald City Complex, Six Roads, St Philip, and Massy Car Park, Warrens, St Michael, while a church service will be held on Sunday at St Luke’s Anglican Church, St George.
This year marks the 24th staging of Vaccination Week in the Americas under the theme “Your Decision Makes a Difference. Immunisation for All”, as health officials continue working towards a target of 95 per cent vaccination coverage.
(LE)
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