Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko says the department is getting an overwhelming positive response from parents following calls for pupils to get immunized for measles following reports of a measles outbreak in five provinces including Gauteng and the North West.
According to the National Institution for Communicable Diseases confirmed cases of measles have increased to 18 since last week when the number was 357 cases. The NICD confirmed the number has risen to 382.
On Wednesday, Nkomo-Ralehoko visited Padisago Primary School in Soshanguve, North of Tshwane and noted the response from parents has been good.
“We may find one or two parents who still believe that my child must not be immunized but most of them want that. Before we do that, by the way, we do an education programme for parents,” said the MEC.
The Department said over 43 000 children have been immunized in Gauteng since the commencement of the campaign.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said department data was captured to keep track of the number of children vaccinated.
“The other thing that we do immediately is data capturing so that we know the number. We don’t thumb suck the numbers” said Nkomo Ralehoko.
The department said it is targeting children from 6 months to 15 years old and urged parents to give consent for children to be immunised at schools.
