Children returning to school this week may be told what the recommended routine vaccinations carried out by their school nurse are, but the onus lies squarely on the parents to ensure these are applied.
“If you don’t know what immunisations your child should have throughout the growing years you should ask your doctor,” says parent-of-two and qualified nurse Jeanetta Kelsey. “It is very important for parents to inoculate their kids. “I’d 100 per cent protect my child against MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) — to me it is insane not to do so but I know some people who advocate not to. And look what has now happened in the UK,” says the Mirdif resident.
A measles outbreak occurred in Wales earlier this year largely because parents worried about the affect of the vaccine MMR had chosen not to immunise. More than 1,200 people fell ill and one died. “My children have always had the full range of vaccinations — diphtheria, pertussis (or whopping cough), tetanus, polio, BCG for TB — you name it,” she adds.
Whooping cough too re-appeared in a big way in October 2012 in the UK and following 9,368 reported cases of the disease the Department of Health encouraged more pregnant women (between weeks 28 and 38 of pregnancy) to get the vaccine so their babies would remain protected until old enough to have routine vaccines.
Other recommended inoculations are available at most doctors for travel outside of the UAE and this year it is particularly important for parents considering heading to Umrah or Haj with their children to follow the recommendations given by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health.
Richard Malley, Associate Professor of Paediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts USA, says that the ministry’s website suggests certain vulnerable groups including people over 65 years old, children under 12 years old, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases, weakened immune systems or the terminally ill should postpone their plans for Haj in Makkah taking place around October 13 to 18, and Umrah (taken at any time of the year).
The advice, also on the CDC website, is given because of the risk of contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, a respiratory illness that has made some people in the Middle East ill. “Parents in the Middle East should also be aware of the bacterial meningococcal disease which can cause severe infection,” says Malley.
Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, Chief of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, says that although it is uncommon in the UAE, parents travelling to areas of risk with their children should ensure their youngsters received this vaccination at least two weeks prior to departure. “Also, if they travel to the meningococcal belt in Africa they need to ensure they receive the vaccination.” The belt stretches from Gambia in the east through Mali, Nigeria, Niger, Uganda, Sudan and to Ethiopia to the west. ■