Measles prevention campaign underway in Vanuatu, amid fears of disease outbreak – UNICEF

SUVA, 17 March 2015 – An emergency vaccination drive is under way in Vanuatu to protect children hit by Cyclone Pam, as fears grow of a serious measles outbreak.

UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are supporting the Ministry of Health to reach children who are especially vulnerable to disease after the Category 5 Storm tore through the archipelago.

Vanuatu already has very low rates of routine immunisation and suffered an outbreak of measles – a potentially deadly disease – in early March.

“Six teams were deployed throughout the reachable parts of Port Vila to start measles vaccination today,” UNICEF Pacific Representative, Dr Karen Allen, said. “Santo and Port Vila remain high priorities in terms of measles given the previous number of confirmed and suspected cases.”

Up to six additional teams are expected to be trained and to start by the end of this week. They will be vaccinating children, providing them with vital Vitamin A and handing out bednets to protect against malaria.

UNICEF and partners were able to restore the cold storage facility on Vanuatu – which keeps vaccines at the correct temperature and effective – after it was damaged in the Cyclone.

“Priority for vaccinations will be given to children in evacuation centres, with a schedule of administering the vaccines in the early evening when most people are there,” Dr Allen said. “Retired nurses and medical staff with the necessary skills have been hired to carry out the campaign.”

UNICEF is also distributing health supplies for children and families affected by Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu. These include basic health kits, oral rehydration salt sachets, zinc tablets, vitamin A capsules and de-worming tablets…