Vaccinations save lives or prevent serious illnesses in people from all ages. National Immunisation Awareness Week (NIAW), celebrated each year in the last week of April, aims to highlight the importance of vaccines to our individual and collective health.
In this week’s Health For Mzansi podcast, Pumla Ntlabati, SBC/RCCE consultant for Unicef South Africa, explains the importance of immunisation or vaccination for children and adults, as it serves as a form of protection against fatal illnesses and disability.
Ntlabati says that the power of immunisation could be seen during the peak of Covid-19, where a great percentage of the world’s population was immunised against the virus and many lives were saved.
Other illnesses that can be prevented by immunisations are tuberculosis, flu, measles, mumps and poliomyelitis
Unfortunately, the spread of false information within our communities is also prevalent. This is due to miscommunication and a lack of knowledge, says Ntlabati.
To rectify the spread of false information and address structural challenges, there needs to be an effort taken up collectively by the public and private sector, and Ntlabati says every individual has a right to make an informed choice about their health and wellness.
In the podcast, Ntlabati also discusses:
- Structural challenges such as lack of or no access to local clinics due to no money or transport;
- The result of immunisations not being taken or missed and how fatal it can be.
Listen to the full interview on the Health For Mzansi podcast:
Spotify: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices).
Apple Podcasts: Click here to listen on any Apple device.
Google Podcasts: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.
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