Minister of state encourages maintenance of high vaccination coverage

(ZIZ News) — As the Federation joins the rest of the international community in commemorating Vaccination Week 2016, the residents of St. Kitts and Nevis, in particular the health professionals in community health services, were encouraged to do their part in maintaining the high vaccination coverage of 97 percent.

These words of advice were given by Minister of State Responsible for Health, Honourable Senator Wendy Phipps who opened the week on April 25.

The minister specified what can be done in the Federation to achieve the best results.

“Here in St. Kitts and Nevis we must continue to do our part to (a) encourage parents and guardians to vaccinate their infants and school-aged children (b) ensure that there is adequate government support to finance our national immunization programme (c) protect our citizens before they travel abroad to areas where certain diseases are prevalent (d) protect our borders by ensuring that minimum vaccination standards are maintained by travellers seeking to access our ports of entry,” she said.

The minister went on to explain how the Federation’s efforts would help prevent deaths caused by the lack of global vaccination coverage.

“These efforts must work in tandem with our personal practise of ensuring that (1) our environment and neighbourhoods are hostile to vector carrying organisms and insects. (2) Our water supply remains safe and (3) our food security is given the highest priority. Through these combined efforts we will be doing our small parts in helping to prevent the estimated 1.5 million deaths that could be avoided if global vaccination coverage is improved”, the Minister added.

Vaccination Week activities include the launch of the third edition of The Expanded Programme on Immunization in St. Kitts and Nevis, a one minute advertisement featuring local athletes who are assisting in promoting the theme, and simultaneous health fairs in Basseterre and Charlestown on Friday.

The international theme for the week is “Go for the Gold”