Door to door vaccination campaign begins

It’s not often that a news story walks into our lobby here at Channel Five but that’s exactly what happened this afternoon. Two nurses from the Ministry of Health arrived as part of a door to door campaign to immunize Belizean women against measles, mumps and rubella. Armed with their needles and vaccines they approached Channel Five’s females like hunters in search of big game…all while the cameras kept rolling.

Joan Flowers, Public Health Nurse

“We have been preparing at least from the beginning of the year for a catch up measles campaign for females within the child bearing age. The thing is that we started in 1997 to try and cover the female population to try and get them fully immunized against measles, mumps and rubella, with emphasis on rubella, the German measles. Mainly because it affects the unborn child if the mother catches the German measles within the first three months of pregnancy.”

Stewart Krohn, Reporting

“How often does a woman have to get vaccinated?”

Joan Flowers

“well we have an ongoing immunization program whereby the children gets the MMR vaccine at 1 year and then would probably need a booster at the age of 11 or 12 years old. If the female gets the MMR vaccine in her adult life, then she only needs it once because it has a long last protection of about 16 years.”

Stewart Krohn

“How has the reception been to your campaign?”

Joan Flowers

“Well so far its been great. I think most of the women are taking advantage of this offer and they’re really stepping up and getting their immunization for MMR.”

While the vaccinations are not mandatory the public is asked to cooperate with the nurses in an effort to limit the damage caused by measles, mumps and rubella.