The former Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, launched the inclusion of the rotavirus and pneumococcus vaccines in the South African Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) at Upper Telle village, in the Ukhahlamba district of the Eastern Cape Province, on the 12th of September 2008, with the aim of reducing the mortality rate of children under the age of five.
Dr Tshabalala-Msimang mentioned that these new vaccines will be incorporated into the existing EPI for children under the age of five years, and will be available in provincial clinics and hospitals by the end of September 2008. She also mentioned that the vaccine launch was the first of its kind in Africa.
Pneumococcus is reported to be responsible for the majority of pneumonia cases, and causes an estimated 1.8-million deaths in children under five mainly in developing and poor countries. The pneumococcus conjugate vaccine protects children against diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis and other more common infections such as sinusitis.
The rotavirus vaccine is effective in protecting children against the rotavirus, which causes severe diarrhoea among infants under five years of age, often leading to death.
The two vaccines were introduced in the week that the world marked the 30th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration, which calls on nations to place emphasis on primary healthcare as part of their plans to deliver healthcare.
"This is a milestone for Africa - we are the first country on the continent to provide these vaccines in the public sector and I must add without charge," said Dr Tshabalala-Msimang at the launch of the vaccines.
The health department intends to have the vaccines made available throughout the Eastern Cape by October this year, and nationally by the end of March next year.
It is estimated that the introduction of these vaccines will save about 14 childrens’ lives each day, or avert more than 4 700 deaths per year from pneumococcal pneumonia and viral diarrhoea.
