Govt adds yellow fever vaccine to childhood immunisation schedule

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The government has added the yellow fever vaccine to the childhood immunisation schedule, according to Dr. Gabriel Taban, the assistant health officer for maternal health in Buliisa district.

Dr. Taban announced this during the launch of the "Big Catch-Up" vaccination drive as part of the Integrated Child Health Days at Buliisa Health Centre IV.

Dr. Taban noted that several other vaccines have also been updated. The measles vaccine, previously given as a single dose at nine months, now includes a second dose at 18 months for added protection.

The Rota vaccine, which protects against diarrhoeal diseases, has been expanded from two doses to three.

Additionally, the polio vaccine, previously given as a single dose at six weeks, will now include a second dose at fourteen weeks.

He also revealed that the malaria vaccine will be introduced in April next year, and the new vaccination cards will reflect this change, ensuring children receive this additional protection at health centres.

Dr. Taban emphasised the government’s commitment to safeguarding children’s health and reducing deaths from preventable diseases.

He noted that while immunisation in the past covered six diseases, it now protects against fourteen, including tuberculosis, polio, measles, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, Haemophilus influenza, hepatitis B, pneumonia, rotavirus, and now yellow fever, among others.

The district faces a significant number of children who missed vaccinations, partly due to limited information among parents and disruptions caused by COVID-19. According to national data, Buliisa District’s vaccination coverage stands at 87%, slightly below the national average of 90%.

To address these gaps, Dr. Taban urged parents to bring unvaccinated children to health centres and village vaccination posts. Village health teams have been conducting door-to-door surveys to identify unvaccinated children across the district, and parents are encouraged to bring their children’s vaccination cards for cross-checking.

He assured residents of the vaccines’ safety, noting that they are approved by the government, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF.

Dr Taban added that the ongoing exercise, set to last a month, will vaccinate all children under five against fourteen diseases, as well as immunise girls aged 10 to 14 with the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer and women aged 15 to 49 against tetanus.

Buliisa Resident District Commissioner Longino Bahebwa Byagagaire urged mothers to take advantage of this free vaccination initiative.

He highlighted the government’s success in eliminating diseases that once caused severe health issues, recalling that measles outbreaks were common before the introduction of mass vaccinations in 1986.

Chief Administrative Officer Ismail Onzu commended the government for including the yellow fever vaccine in the immunisation schedule, noting that it has been crucial for Ugandans travelling abroad. He advised residents to seek medical care from government health facilities for accurate diagnosis and treatment.