November 18, 2017
The
Ministry of Health and Sports issued a notification yesterday on Japanese
encephalitis vaccinations, it is learnt.
According
to World Health Organization (WHO), the Japanese encephalitis virus infects
3,000 to 6,000 people in Myanmar annually, but that number is likely to be much
higher. Ninety per cent of those infected are children aged 15 years and below.
Of those infected, 30 per cent are fatal, while many survivors continue to have
long-term neurologic, psychiatric, or cognitive problems.
Therefore,
the Ministry of Health and Sports is arranging to vaccinate children between
the ages of 9 months and 15 years all over the country in cooperation with
donor organisations Gavi, the vaccine alliance, WHO, United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
For
the vaccination programme to be safe, a year of preparations were made using
WHO’s estimate on possible post-vaccination problems, preventive measures and
treatment processes included in the guidelines, experienced health personnel
trained, required medications prepared for all vaccination teams and close
observation work for post vaccination problems were set in place.
Countrywide
vaccinations of 14 million children between the ages of 9 months and 15 years
was started on 15 November, and 17 November vaccinating more than 5 million
children.
Three
children showed signs of severe post-vaccination symptoms and two recovered
after being given preliminary treatments.
A
13-year-old child in Pinlaung Township, Shan State who showed signs of severe
post-vaccination symptoms was given preliminary treatment in the township
hospital and was transferred to Taunggyi Women and Children Hospital, but died
on 16 November. A project manager and a field team from the central vaccination
programme immediately went to find out the cause of the death and to see
whether there was any connection to the vaccination. They are conducting
laboratory tests with Shan State Health Department officials and specialists.
On
18 November, experts from the Ministry of Health, the Adverse Events Following
Immunization (AEFI) Management Committee, and the advisory committee on
national-level immunisation work held a meeting to review the findings
submitted by the field team. On 19 November, officials from the Ministry of
Health, specialists, and officials from WHO and UNICEF will conduct a field
visit and issue an announcement.
Japanese
encephalitis vaccination work is being continued and additional measures were
put in place to prevent and reduce occurrence of similar post-vaccination
problems, according to the notification.
Enquiries
on Japanese encephalitis vaccination work can be made to
(1)
Dr. Than Tun Aung, Deputy Director General, Phone 095408973 and
(2)
Dr. Htar Htar Lin, Project Manager, Phone 09428188188 it is learnt.
Myanmar
News Agency
Ref;
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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