Zimpapers Logo

Yeukai Karengezeka-Herald Correspondent

Chitungwiza municipal health department has already vaccinated 37 000 children in the present campaign against measles, indicating a steady increase in the number of children coming forward for new or booster shots.

The vaccination campaign started with all children aged six months to 59 months irrespective of their previous vaccination status for measles and rubella. 

As the most vulnerable are vaccinated, the blitz has since been extended by Government to children who are below the age of 15. 

As of September 4, Chitungwiza municipal health had vaccinated 22 000 children and with the number vaccinated in the next month had reached 34 853.

Chitungwiza health and environmental services director Dr Tonderai Kasu said his department needed to vaccinate 64 000 children.

Dr Kasu also said children have received Vitamin A supplements during the same exercise.

The vaccination programme is being undertaken at nine static sites and 13 outreach sites.

The static sites are Chitungwiza Health Department clinics for Zengeza, St Mary’s, Seke South and Seke North, Citimed Hospital, Chitungwiza Central Hospital, Manyame 24hr, St Michaels and ZRP Camp Clinic.

Dr Kasu, however, said they are yet to extend the vaccination to schools due to lack of resources.

“We have had challenges going into schools to conduct vaccinations since the schools opened for the current school term because no budget has been availed so far for these activities in the schools,” he said.

Council was now preparing for another programme of polio vaccination set for this month end.

“We are also currently seized with preparations for the upcoming first round of the national polio vaccination campaign which shall be from 27 to 30 October 2022.

“Polio is a very high infectious virus disease that affects children under the age of five regardless of their previous vaccination status. Each child must receive two drops of oral polio vaccine,” said Dr Kasu.

Since the beginning of the measles outbreak, Chitungwiza has a cumulative total of 168 suspected cases of measles, 12 confirmed cases, and one suspected measles death.

The suspected measles death was of a child aged two who had an acute illness and was unvaccinated.

Measles is an acute viral respiratory illness commonly found in children.