Public Health Ministry debunks erroneous news article
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXpC58xQsX8″ width=”100%” height=”315″]
─ Lochaber Primary students received routine DPT Vaccine – Health official finds
─ 39 students vaccinated
─ only one child received medical treatment prior to vaccination
─ teacher, parents were alerted since January of exercise
DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, March 5, 2019
The Ministry of Public Health is refuting an erroneous article which claimed several students of a West Canje Primary school were rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital after receiving an unexpected vaccine from staff from the Sandvoort Health Centre. Following investigations, the Health Ministry has found that the report was based on several inaccuracies resulting from the publication’s use of a misinformed source.
According to the ministry, 39 students of the Lochaber Primary School, West Canje, East Berbice received a routine booster DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) vaccine on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. This was administered by the midwife of the Sandvoort Health Centre who ensured students were prepared for the vaccine since January 2019.
This DPT booster is usually administered to children at two months, four months, six months, 18 months and at three years nine months. Booster doses are given between the ages of four and six years, according to the ministry.
During the new school year, starting January, the Regional Health Department, through the Sandvoort Health Centre, alerted the school of the upcoming vaccination exercise. This was to encourage parents to either opt out of having their child receive the vaccine or submit the child’s clinic card to be updated after he or she would have received the vaccine.
Since the vaccine was administered, hospital records show that only one child, age six was treated for side effects of the vaccine and sent away. The mother of that child, Cassandra Arthur, out of frustration, vented her dissatisfaction with her child receiving the vaccine.
It was found that the child suffered from simple swelling of the vaccination site and pain in the arm where he received the shot. This eventually subsided after medical attention was sought at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud and Maternal and Child Health Officer (ag), Dr. Oneka Scott travelled to Berbice recently to urgently meet with the mother along with Midwife of the Sandvoort Health Centre and the headteacher of the school where the vaccination exercise was conducted.
After his interaction with all parties involved, Dr. Persaud concluded that “Contrary to the report, this was a routine vaccine that is usually given to children of that age group as the sixth dose of the DPT and it’s not associated. I think that’s the point we need to emphasise, it’s not associated with the current campaign to deliver HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccines to both boys and girls in schools across Guyana.”
In the investigations, the CMO said they learnt that the child is asthmatic and could have suffered a co-morbid reaction which is usually short term and not fatal.
Dr. Scott, the MCH Officer, added “I think there was some amount of miscommunication, I am not sure if it could have been avoided with proper information being given to the mother. However, these things do happen from time to time although we don’t want them to happen. They may, someone may receive the information in time, or they may not receive the information brochure that educates them or tells them that it is vaccination day the nurses are going to the schools. We’ll try to see how best we can correct that.”
She said the misinformation, indicates that there should be intensified awareness to parents of all vaccines that are administered in schools. She also added that nurses and health personnel going to schools to administer vaccines “is not something new.”
After meeting with officials from the Ministry of Public Health, Arthur agreed that her son only had an adverse side effect from the vaccine. She conceded that she has since been educated on the facts surrounding the administering of the vaccine. The mother also indicated her satisfaction with the interest shown in her son’s case and is further pleased to have received the necessary answers.
“I feel pleased that someone could have come forward and give me proper satisfaction for my son about the vaccine they administered to him,” Arthur said.
Since 2015, Region 6, East Berbice-Corentyne has been among the regions celebrated for robust vaccination programme in all communities. As of 2018, vaccination coverage in the region was recorded at 94 per cent.
Delicia Haynes.
Images: Giovanni Gajie.