MOH to improve Jamaica’s immunization coverage

The health ministry is to look at additional ways to improve the country’s immunization coverage.



At present vaccination coverage averages 83 per cent with the exception of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination coverage, which is at 77 per cent.



Health Minister Rudyard Spencer is proposing several initiatives to improve immunization coverage for children.



These include making it mandatory for caregivers to produce the immunization card of all patients up to age 18 when they seek care at any health facility.



He’s also suggesting that immunization services be offered at every point of the health care delivery system and the prosecution of persons who prevent children from being immunized.



The health minister adds that the collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Early Childhood Commission can be strengthened to ensure that all children admitted to school are adequately vaccinated.



In the meantime, Mr Spencer said there has been little improvement in the country’ maternal and child mortality rates over the past few years.



The maternal mortality rate now stands at 95 per 100 thousand live births.



The infant mortality rate has moved from 51.5 per thousand live births in 1960 to 25.7 per thousand in 2007.



The health ministry has attributed the challenges in this area to a 47 per cent shortage of midwives.