By Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter 
Dr. Ian Darnton-Hill (foreground), a senior United Nations Children's Fund official, heads the list of
participants at the Ministry of Health Expanded Programme on Immunisation Interagency Coordinating Committee meeting at the Liguanea Club, yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
PUBLIC HEALTH officials are now deeply concerned about a steep decline in the country's immunisation rate against all the major infectious diseases, including poliomyelitis and tuberculosis.
The desirable immunisation rate is between 90 and 95 per cent but in some cases, the rates have fallen below 60 per cent over the last three years, sparking concerns about the potential for disease outbreaks.
Ministry of Health officials are, however, acting quickly to stem the decline with an eight-week 'mop-up' campaign slated to start next month.
"Vaccines are being provided but children are not coming forward," said Dr. Christine Hammond-Gabbadon, paediatrician and programme development officer in the Ministry of Health.
She was representing director of family health services, Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell, at the expanded programme on immunisation's inter-agency coordinating committee meeting, held yesterday at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston.
Dr. Hammond-Gabbadon said that vaccination rates against infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, poliomyelitis and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) have fallen from near 95 per cent, the Ministry's immunisation target, to below 85 per cent in some cases, based on preliminary reports. This decline was first seen in 2001, she said.
The steep decline in immunisation rate has been linked to many factors, including:
* Some primary and preparatory schools accepting children who have not been immunised.
* A difficulty for health officials in accessing children in some inner city and violence-prone communities.
* Parents and guardians becoming complacent because the previously excellent immunisation coverage means that they
have not recently seen disease outbreaks.
* Some parents and guardians refusing to immunise children because of religious beliefs, myths or alternative medicine.
* Inadequate funding for training and regular outreach sessions.
* Staff shortages the public health system only has 50 to 70 per cent of the cadre of public health nurses needed.
* The unavailability of daily vaccination services.
* Poor access to vehicles which makes it difficult to access rural locations.
* Competing interests with other health issues.
The intensive eight-week 'mop up' campaign starting next month will target 15,000 children, under two years old, who have not been immunised. The health officials said that the "mop-up" campaign will be launched March and run through April to coincide with (International) Vaccination Week, April 23 to 30. Vaccinations will be provided free of cost.
"Nurses will be going back to their tracking records to see who did not come in and find these children," explained Dr. Rachel Rodin, who was representing the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO). The eight-week campaign will end with (International) Vaccination Week 2005, slated for April 23 to April 30, 2005.
