INFANTS GET FIRST DOSE OF MALARIA VACCINE IN ARUA CITY
Nurse Jane administering the first dose of vaccine to one of the infants.
By Anslem Ojaru
Arua City
A number of infants in Arua city have received the first dose of Malaria vaccine which has been rolled country wide.
The vaccine is targeting the most vulnerable infants from 6 months to one and half years and is administered in four doses.
The health educator in Arua central, Sister Jane Driciru explains how the vaccine is administered to children.
“One vial of the malaria vaccine vaccinates 2 children and one child gets 0.5mls intermusculary on the right upper arm, this vaccine is stared at six months then the second dose will be at the interval of one month until the child gets the third dose then after finishing the third dose when the child reaches eighteen months that means six months after the third dose the child will now get the fourth dose,” Driciru explained.
Bako Brenda a mothers to a six months old baby says she is prepared to bring the child to receive all the doses as required.
“Am really greatful to the government for the vaccine, I have gotten the first dose and am planning to come for the second one that is probably next month am encouraging my fellow women who are having their kids to come and do this vaccination,” Bako disclosed.
The senior health educator in Arua city Bernard Amaga explains the significance of the vaccine in reducing the severe disease.
“One of the most important thing that we need to know about the vaccine is that it cannot stop you from getting Malaria but it protects a child against the severe forms of Malaria so it prevents multiplication of plasmodia a parasite inside the liver cells and hence gives a child a protective measure that this child even if infected with malaria does not progress to severe malaria making it to be easily treated,” Amaga noted.
According to the ministry of health, the malaria vaccine will be incorporated in the routine vaccination schedule for all children aged six to 18 months.
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