Call for increase in measles vaccinations in Gauteng
Gauteng recently recorded 181 laboratory-confirmed cases, with hotspots identified in Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Ekurhuleni.
A child with measles. Picture: CDC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
CAPE TOWN - A nursing expert has called for an increase in measles vaccinations in Gauteng, as the province continues to deal with an outbreak
Gauteng recently recorded 181 laboratory-confirmed cases, with hotspots identified in Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Ekurhuleni.
Academic division head of the school of nursing at the University of the Western Cape, Associate Professor Talitha Crowley, said that vaccination coverage in the province that is reportedly under 75%, is well below the threshold to prevent outbreaks.
"For us to prevent a measles outbreak, we actually need less than 5% who are not vaccinated in a community. So 95% vaccination coverage."
Crowley gave possible reasons why people were not getting vaccinated.
"During and after the COVID pandemic, we had many people who could not access vaccinations. Some people come from marginalised communities, and parents may be hesitant to vaccinate their children. So there may be many reasons.
Crowley said that recent campaigns in the Cape Metro resulted in a 90% vaccination coverage in the province.