Over seven hundred thousand children are missing out measles vaccine as the second phase of the nationwide vaccination campaign is postponed due to COVID-19.
In February this year, a national measles vaccination campaign was launched aiming at vaccinating 2.5 million children across South Sudan.
The first phase covering 70 percent of the counties was completed; meanwhile the second phase is postponed.
UNICEF in a press release advises the public that while the campaign is postponed, routine immunization including provision of the measles vaccine is continuing at health care centres across South Sudan.
‘COVID-19 has shown us what a contagious disease without a vaccine can do to the world. Measles is extremely contagious, but we are lucky because we have an effective vaccine. I urge every parent and caregiver to take your children for immunization. It is the easiest way to protect our youngest against life-threatening diseases.’ says Dr Mohamed Ag Ayoya, UNICEF South Sudan Representative.
Dr Ayoya confirms that a total of 4720 cases of measles have been reported including 23 deaths due to the low child immunization rate in South Sudan.