By Seleoe Nonyane
Some parents of children who are eligible for the Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination are reluctant to take their children to get the MR Vaccination which resumed on October 24 2022 meant to run for two weeks.
The campaign targets children aged between zero to 59 months.
The Expanded Programme on Immunisation Officer ‘Malefaso Mosese said that the campaign is going to boost services such as the provision of routine immunization, which were interrupted by the advent of COVID-19 Pandemic that impaired socio -economic and public health services in Lesotho.
The resumption of vaccination comes as a concerted measure to catch up and avert future outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization coverages for diseases such as Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV); Measles/Rubella.
Some parents say they are worried that their children might become ill after receiving the vaccination. The last MR vaccination campaign was carried out in 2017 and was highly criticized on social media platforms.
In 2017, after the MR vaccination, some parents complained bitterly on social media platforms that their children were experiencing dire after effects following reception of the MR vaccination.
Most parents claimed that their children suffered numerous side-effects such as high fever, body rushes and coughing.
Therefore, now that the ministry of health has decided to conduct the MR campaign, parents think that they are putting their children’s lives in danger if they take their children to get the injection.
A 29-year old new mother from Ha Leqele, Ntsoaki Lecheko said she believes in vaccines but the aftermath of the 2017 measles vaccine saga has left her afraid of taking her daughter to get vaccinated fearing for any possible side effects.
“I was not yet a mother in 2017 but news of children who fell ill after receiving the measles vaccination in 2017 came to my attention as they were all over social media.
“So, I am scared that the same thing will occur with this campaign and my child may be among the children that suffer those side-effects. However, I understand the importance of receiving the vaccination.
“Again, I feel that if I do not take my child to get this vaccination I will also be putting her at risk of contracting other diseases which are preventable by vaccination,” she said.
She said that she is very undecided and hopes the decision she makes will be the best for her child.
The other mother of two children old theReporter from Masowe I ‘Mabokamoso Mabitle said that in 2017 her first born was eligible for the vaccine and she received it and the child did not experience any side-effects.
But, this does not mean that she is not scared of taking her other child for vaccination because she is not certain about the outcomes as some people claimed their children had experienced some dire side-effects.
“In as much as my child was fine after the MR vaccine I am not sure that my other child will also be fine.
“Yes, we were told that the vaccine prevents a lot of diseases. However, we wish that the children would not suffer any side-effects.
“I will wait until the last days just to see the responses of parents who have taken their children to see whether their children will be experiencing any negative effects and their extent,” Mabitle said.
However, despite the concerns of other parents some have vowed to take their children to get the vaccinated since the commencement of the campaign this week which is being carried out in all the 10 districts of Lesotho.
The public relation officer (PRO) for the ministry of health ‘Mateboho Mosebekoa said that the mood and turn-out of parents taking their children to get vaccinated is promising.
She said since Monday parents have been coming in numbers and the only challenge faced is that of parents who are ignorant about the MR vaccination.
“There seemed to be misconceptions on whether the MR Vaccine is the same as the one used at health centres all the time.
“So, we explained to them that the vaccine is the same all that the ministry of health is doing is to capacitate the MR Vaccination,” Mosebekoa indicated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) consultant Abobo Francis said that the MR vaccine which is being used in the campaign is completely safe. But, he added, like in any other injectable vaccine, there could be mild pain and redness at the injection site, low-grade fever, rash and muscle aches which subsides on its own.
“The vaccine is not known to cause any other adverse effects. However, all immunization sessions – whether in schools or outreach – are linked to fully equipped health centres to handle any adverse occurances,” he said.
At the beginning of 2022 UNICEF and WHO stated that almost 17 338 measles cases were reported worldwide in January and February 2022, compared to 9665 during the first two months of 2021.
The agencies are concerned that outbreaks of measles could also forewarn outbreaks of other diseases that do not spread rapidly.
As of April 2022, the agencies reported 21 large and disruptive measles outbreaks around the world in the last 12 months. Most of the measles cases were reported in Africa and the East Mediterranean region.
One country which has suffered the measles vaccination outbreak is Zimbabwe. According to the ministry of health of Zimbabwe, as at September 6 2022, Zimbabwe had 6 551 confirmed cases, including 4 633 recoveries and 704 deaths.
