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Vaccine-Preventable Childhood Illnesses: Pharmacist’s Module 5, 2016
The EPI-SA programme strives to reach every child with quality immunisation services that incorporate the use of new vaccines and technology and that ensure no child is denied his or her right to protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. This is, however, not without challenges. Despite the achievements of the programme, under-immunisation among children still remains a challenge in both the public and the private sector. Under-immunisation not only leads to increased risk for disease but also threatens the immunity thresholds needed to prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable infections.
It is critically important that the pharmacist be aware of the practicalities related to vaccines and immunisation, have solid knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases and current immunisation schedules for children and adolescents and be in a position to advocate for the safety of vaccines and their health benefits. The pharmacist can play an important role in supporting and strengthening the national immunisation programme.
This module is intended to build on the pharmacist’s knowledge of common vaccine-preventable childhood infectious diseases, their clinical features, how they are spread or transmitted, the safety profile and the benefits of vaccines as well as the current vaccination schedules in both the public and private sector.
