Health Department
By Karabo Marifi
The Health Department is calling on all parents and caregivers to ensure their children are fully vaccinated as South Africa marks Immunisation Week. The department announced that it will intensify vaccination and disease surveillance activities, particularly in poorly performing districts, to address worrying immunity gaps across the country.
Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said that vaccination remains the most cost-effective and life-saving public health intervention. “Vaccination remains the most cost-effective public health intervention to save lives, and it’s also the first line of defence against many diseases,” Mohale stressed.
He noted that in 2023 alone, approximately 14.5 million children globally did not receive a single dose of any vaccine, a statistic that poses serious risks to public health and global disease control efforts.
Focus on Closing Immunity Gaps
This Immunisation Week, the Department of Health has set its sights on districts where immunisation coverage remains below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended threshold. The department’s intensified efforts will include community outreach programmes, awareness campaigns, and targeted vaccination drives at schools, clinics, and mobile health units.
Health officials warn that immunity gaps — where a significant number of children remain unvaccinated — can quickly lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases such as measles, polio, mumps, rubella, and diphtheria.
“Vaccines protect individuals and communities. When enough people are immunised, we can achieve herd immunity and protect those who cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions,” Mohale explained.
South Africa’s Immunisation Challenge
South Africa, like many countries, has seen worrying declines in vaccination rates in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine immunisation schedules, while misinformation campaigns, healthcare worker shortages, and socio-economic factors further contributed to reduced uptake.
In addition, vaccine hesitancy remains a growing concern. Health authorities are battling against myths and conspiracy theories that discourage parents from vaccinating their children.
The Department of Health said that unless these trends are reversed, South Africa risks seeing the return of diseases once thought to be under control. Globally, outbreaks of measles — one of the most contagious viruses known — have surged in countries where immunisation rates have fallen.
Vaccination Saves Millions of Lives
According to the World Health Organization, immunisation prevents between 3.5 to 5 million deaths every year from vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines have played a pivotal role in reducing child mortality and improving life expectancy worldwide.
Mohale stressed the critical importance of keeping vaccination schedules up to date: “Parents and caregivers must not wait for an outbreak to occur before taking action. Vaccinations are safe, effective, and available free of charge at public health facilities.”
He urged families to check their children’s Road-to-Health booklets to ensure they have received all age-appropriate vaccines. Missed doses can and should be caught up, he added.
Focus Diseases During Immunisation Week
The Health Department’s intensified vaccination efforts will specifically focus on:
• Measles: Highly contagious and potentially fatal if complications arise.
• Polio: A debilitating disease that can cause permanent paralysis.
• Mumps and Rubella: Viral infections that can cause serious complications, especially in pregnant women.
• Diphtheria: A bacterial infection that can block airways and cause severe organ damage.
“Each of these diseases can have devastating effects. Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way to prevent them,” Mohale said.
National Efforts and Community Collaboration
In partnership with local municipalities, non-governmental organisations, and international health partners, the Health Department will roll out mobile vaccination clinics to rural and underserved communities.
Public awareness campaigns, including radio programmes, school talks, and community meetings, will be launched to educate parents and counter vaccine misinformation.
The Department also called on religious leaders, traditional authorities, and community influencers to lend their voices in support of vaccination campaigns, helping to rebuild trust and address misconceptions.
Parents Encouraged to Act Now
Parents and caregivers are strongly encouraged to take their children to their nearest clinic or health facility without delay.
“Every missed vaccine is a missed opportunity to protect a child’s future,” Mohale concluded.
He reminded the public that vaccines undergo rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness before they are approved, and that South Africa’s immunisation schedule is carefully designed to protect children from birth through adolescence.
South Africa’s Immunisation Schedule at a Glance
South Africa’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) provides a detailed vaccination schedule, including key vaccines given at:
• Birth: BCG (Tuberculosis), OPV (Polio)
• 6 weeks: Rotavirus, DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV (Hexavalent vaccine), PCV (Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)
• 10 weeks: Second dose of Hexavalent vaccine
• 14 weeks: Third dose of Hexavalent vaccine, second dose of Rotavirus and PCV
• 6 months: Measles 1st dose
• 9 months: Measles second dose
• 12 months: Booster doses
Catch-up schedules are available for children who missed any vaccinations.
Final Call: Immunisation is a Shared Responsibility
As Immunisation Week continues, health officials are calling on every South African to do their part to protect the country’s children and future generations.
Vaccination remains humanity’s best tool in fighting infectious diseases. As the Health Department intensifies its campaign, parents, caregivers, and communities must work together to close the immunisation gap, safeguard children’s health, and strengthen the country’s resilience against preventable diseases.
