Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161431010
120,000 yellow fever vaccines on the way
Wednesday, January 28th 2009
Health Minister Jerry Narace said 120,000 yellow fever vaccines have been ordered to meet the growing demand.
Speaking during the Senate sitting yesterday Narace said there are some 60,000 vaccines in stock thereby bringing the total vaccinations available for 2009 at 190,000.
There were reports of a shortage of vaccines in some health centres after people swarmed to get their shots following confirmed cases of yellow fever which killed several monkeys throughout the island over the last two weeks.
Narace said there was a systematic approach to distributing these vaccines and persons considered at high risk for yellow fever such as hunters will be given the vaccination first.
Narace said Government has embarked on an initiative to educate the public about yellow fever by going into various communities and moving from house to house distributing 200,000 flyers and using microphones.
He said the importance of hygiene in the home and in the community is critical and this information is being passed to people throughout the country.
Narace added that the Ministry is collaborating with local Government bodies such as councillors who will be partnering with them in educating the country about yellow fever.
He also took the opportunity to clear the air on conflicting figures on dengue cases between the Health Ministry and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).
Narace said PAHO's figures includes the screening of patients for dengue while Ministry of Health based its figures from confirmed cases from Trinidad Health Public Laboratory.
120,000 yellow fever vaccines on the way
Wednesday, January 28th 2009
Health Minister Jerry Narace said 120,000 yellow fever vaccines have been ordered to meet the growing demand.
Speaking during the Senate sitting yesterday Narace said there are some 60,000 vaccines in stock thereby bringing the total vaccinations available for 2009 at 190,000.
There were reports of a shortage of vaccines in some health centres after people swarmed to get their shots following confirmed cases of yellow fever which killed several monkeys throughout the island over the last two weeks.
Narace said there was a systematic approach to distributing these vaccines and persons considered at high risk for yellow fever such as hunters will be given the vaccination first.
Narace said Government has embarked on an initiative to educate the public about yellow fever by going into various communities and moving from house to house distributing 200,000 flyers and using microphones.
He said the importance of hygiene in the home and in the community is critical and this information is being passed to people throughout the country.
Narace added that the Ministry is collaborating with local Government bodies such as councillors who will be partnering with them in educating the country about yellow fever.
He also took the opportunity to clear the air on conflicting figures on dengue cases between the Health Ministry and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).
Narace said PAHO's figures includes the screening of patients for dengue while Ministry of Health based its figures from confirmed cases from Trinidad Health Public Laboratory.