A TOTAL of 23,489 children have been immunised against the life-threatening meningococcal disease. This was confirmed by the Health Ministry in a statement released yesterday.
The immunisation is part of the national meningococcal immunisation program which targets a total of 325,000 children between the ages of 12 months and 19 years.
The first phase of the program which covered the Central Division and Ra Subdivision featured 23,489 children being immunised against the deadly disease, the ministry said.
“The immunisation program began in the Central Division and Ra Subdivision on May 14, 2018 and will continue until Friday, June 29, 2018.
It targets all children and teenagers aged 1-19 years and are currently being delivered at all schools, health centres and nursing stations within the Central Division and Ra Subdivision,” the ministry said.
The immunisation program for the Western and Northern divisions will follow accordingly.
The ministry said the vaccines were safe and effective and was used in many immunisation programs around the world.
While nurses in the Central Division and Ra Subdivision are continuing with immunisation works, training is being held for nurses in the Northern, Eastern and Western divisions.
“The health workers will work to immunise the children and adolescents across Fiji, with the campaign initially focusing on the most at risk groups. Initial focus is for the Central Division and Ra Subdivision in the West,” the ministry said.
