BVIHSA concerned about decline in child vaccination rates locally
The BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) has raised concerns about the decline in mandatory childhood vaccination in the territory as there is a resurgence of some diseases internationally.
In an interview with JTV 55 News, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Manager at the BVIHSA, Marina Bedeau said the BVI has a history of coverage of 98-100 per cent in childhood vaccines but that has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.
“We looked at different reasons why it happened. Initially, we say okay, parents and guardians are afraid to come out because of the lockdowns that we had prevented them from coming—the social distancing, they were not coming to the clinics. But now that we are in a decline where they have time to go, [they] do every other thing. They can take their children to any other clinics — clinics that they are used to — to have the children vaccinated, especially now that school will be reopened. The children are required to be vaccinated for entry into school,” Bedeau said.
She reminded parents the vaccines the children must get are Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP vaccine), Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and Varicella which protects against chicken pox. She also noted they are all mandatory vaccines for children.
“We have had quite a few persons coming in refusing to have the children vaccinated because of the same COVID vaccines. And so, we try now to see how we can get them to please continue the children’s immunization at the various clinics,” Bedeau said.
Re-emergence of diseases internationally
Meanwhile, Acting Interim Chief Executive Officer of the BVIHSA Dr June Samuel highlighted that parents must vaccinate their children as there is the re-emergence of diseases internationally.
“This issue about parents having their children vaccinated, we would be aware and we’re mindful that there is now a resurgence of polio in the US and there have been outbreaks of measles in the past as well. Now it’s a very international world. People move from one place to the next very easily. So, one of the issues is if we let our vaccination coverage fall too low, then we lose the advantage of having herd immunity… or we have the reintroduction of the diseases that we already have eradicated. So that’s something we don’t want to have to deal with—polio remerging in the BVI,” Dr. Samuels said.
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No childhood vaccinations then no in person schooling. Vaccinate or stay home!
Yeah people understand quackzines are harming our children. How come, it use to be just a few quackzines and now more than 70 for kids?? Poisoning our children’s bodies is what they are doing. It is child abuse and genocide.
I am 75 and had only small pox, polio and diptheria. And I am super healthy. What is the purpose of all those chemicals, experimentation or something more evil?
@ OK
You don’t sit in a class room with a bunch of kids’ touching everything, runny nose and what ever else kids get into. I agree we need to keep an eye on it…….but the ones that are now mandatory are needed and keeping us from being a third world country.
The ingredients in those shots are criminal. It is evident in the high rates or disease and disabilities in the youth today.
Good for you bvi keep it up. Do not let them inject deadly chemicals into your infants when their blood brain barrier is still open.
Stop being an idiot. It’s not 70 vaccines and, anyway, did you really expect that, in 70 years, no new vaccines would be developed? 70 years before you were born most of the vaccines you had as a child didn’t exist. Just stfu!!
Yes, do your research but don’t research in media owned by crackpots. What high rates of diseases and disabilities today? You mean the measles and mumps and other epidemics we’re seeing because fools are encouraging other mumus not to get vaccinated and not to vaccinate their children? The brain drain is really affecting the territory.
Please site your sources …