SUNDAY, MAY 16, 1993
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HEP B VACCINATION PROGRAMME TO EXTEND TILL END OF YEAR
*
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED ON PARENTS WITH CHILDREN BORN BETWEEN 1986 AND 1988 AND HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AGAINST HEPATITIS B TO TAKE THEM FOR VACCINATION BEFORE THE END THE YEAR.
OF
VACCINATION AGAINST THE DISEASE IS FRFE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES UNDER A PREVENTIVE PROGRAMME INTRODUCED IN JULY LAST YEAR AND SCHEDULED FOR ONE YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
"THE PROGRAMME HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED TILL THE END OF THE YEAR TO ALLOW PARENTS WHO HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED TO TAKE ACTION AND NOT ΤΟ BE MISSED OUT, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE PARTICULARLY PRONE TO HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY ACTIVE AND MIGHT INJURE THEMSELVES EASILY THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND
ACCIDENTS.
"HEPATITIS A VIRUS CAN GAIN ACCESS TO THEIR BODIES THROUGH EVEN MINOR WOUNDS.
DEVELOPING
INFECTION BY HEPATITIS R VIRUS MAY RESULT IN CHRONIC LIVER DISEASES SUCH AS CIRRHOSIS AND LIVER CANCER, HE SAID.
"
TO ACHIPVE MAXIMUM PROTECTION, EACH CHILD SHOULD RECEIVE A FULL COURSE OF THREE DOSES THE FIRST TWO DOSES AT AN INTERVAL OF ONE MONTH WHILE THE SECOND AND THE THRID DOSE AT AN INTERVAL OF TWO
TO FOUR MONTHS.
PARENTS ARE ADVISED TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN, TOGETHER WITH IMMUNISATION CARDS, BACK TO THE IR RESPECTIVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR VACCINATION.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON THE TELEPHONE HOTLINE DURING OFFICE HOURS.
"838 7428"
AGAINST THE
THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED A VACCINATION PROGRAMMR DISEASE IN 1984 FOR BABIES BORN TO CARRIER MOTHERS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
IT WAS EXPANDED IN NOVEMBER 1988 TO COVER ALL NEWBORNS.
IN JULY LAST YEAR, THE PROGRAMME WAS PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN BORN BETWEEN PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.
1986 AND
FURTHER EXPANDED TO 1988 WITHIN A SCHEDULED
COVER
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