The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs is continuing to intensify efforts to educate the public on the importance and benefits of immunization, in the face of a significant decline in vaccination in Saint Lucia and the Americas.
The Ministry this week joined its counterparts in the observance of the 21st Vaccination Week of the Americas from April 22nd -29th. National Immunization Manager Nurse Techla Jn. Baptiste, said the slogan, “Get- up- to- date #Each Vaccine Counts” is a call for collective action to protect people from vaccine preventable diseases. Nurse Jn, Baptiste added that everyone, everywhere can benefit from vaccination for good health and wellbeing.
This observance coincides with the WHO 12th anniversary of World Immunization Week. It empathizes the protection that vaccination provides to individuals and their loved ones, and stresses the importance for a long and healthy life. The goal is to provide a vaccine that people of all ages need to receive and in doing so, increase vaccine acceptance and uptake which has been declining worldwide and more so in the Americas over the last decade.
According the WHO, every year globally, millions of lives are saved through vaccines, however the number of children who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated is close to 20 million.
Country Programme Specialist for the Pan American Health Organization-PAHO, Mr. Reynold Hewitt, said the importance of vaccination cannot be over-emphasized.
“Our region of the Americas was declared measles free in 2016 but unfortunately, the region now faces new measles outbreaks. St Lucia is familiar with the vaccine used in polio, measles, mumps, and rubella …more recently the COVID vaccine has been added to the vaccine schedule. I urge you all St Lucians and residents, let us all continue our tradition of vaccinating and protecting our children and our citizens. Get up, get out, get vaccinated, each vaccine counts.”
Health Minister Hon. Moses Jn. Baptiste has given the thumbs-up to the staff of the ministry for the many initiatives and programmes being undertaken, and has reassured the government’s commitment to continuing to invest in strengthening the island’s health care system towards achieving universal health coverage.
“You have heard many things about Universal Health Coverage over the last few months and I can guarantee you that you have only started hearing about universal health coverage. In the Budget you will hear about the allocations for certain aspects of UHC and I am excited about what is to come. One of the critical components of UHC is access to vaccines which will play a significant role in fostering a strong and resilient primary health care system. Therefore, it is critical to use vaccines as a means of preventing many life-threatening diseases,” the minister said.
The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs will be embarking on a major vaccination drive in several communities across the island.