With a report from the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stating that from January 1 to March 28, 2019, 387 individual cases of measles were confirmed in 15 states, Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone says these troubling stats may cause concern to residents. Photo: Facebook/File

“My encouragement to you is to protect yourself, your children, and other family members from these diseases by ensuring that your family is up to date with their vaccination schedule,” Hon Malone said in a public missive from the Government Information Service (GIS) dated April 24, 2019. Photo: Internet Source

The stats represent the second-greatest number of cases reported in the US since measles was eradicated in 2000 and Hon Malone is encouraging residents to get vaccinated given that the Virgin Islands (VI) is a tourist destination and well-travelled population.

Protect yourself & Family – Malone

 “My encouragement to you is to protect yourself, your children, and other family members from these diseases by ensuring that your family is up to date with their vaccination schedule,” Hon Malone said in a public missive from the Government Information Service (GIS) dated April 24, 2019.

He says the community is also encouraged to pay careful attention to the messages that will be shared by Health Professionals during Vaccination Week, April 20 to 27, 2019, and to seek further information from their primary healthcare provider.

The BVI’s last recorded case of measles was in 1990 according to Hon Malone and he noted that educational efforts will continue through the Expanded Programme on Immunization to provide the relevant vaccines in the prevention of all forms of diseases where possible.

90% of Childhood Vaccines Covered

Further, Hon Malone has disclosed that the Territory has 90 to 95 percent coverage for recommended childhood vaccines which means what almost all of the Territory’s children are up to date with their vaccination schedules.

 “As a Territory, we will continue to strive to achieve 100% coverage for all of the recommended vaccines.  We continue to advocate and admonish parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are vaccinated and protected from vaccine-preventable diseases because we all have a part to play in protecting and preserving the health of our community,” he said.

Honourable Malone further added that vaccinations have become an integral part of the Territory’s health management system and its benefits are realised every day. 

Vaccination Week is being observed from April 20 to 27 under the theme “Do your part. Protect your community. #GetVax.”