MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO INTRODUCE NEW VACCINE HEPATITIS-B

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will introduce Hepatitis-B vaccine (monovalent) into routine immunization schedule starting from Thursday next week. The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Motloheloa Phooko announced this introduction of a new vaccine Hepatitis-B when addressing a press conference held at his offices on Friday.

Minister Phooko maintained that Lesotho is introducing this new vaccine as it has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which Lesotho is a member of. He explained that the Hepatitis-B is a major public problem, "and 30% of the World's population have serological evidence of infection with Hepatitis-B Virus." He went on to show that Lesotho is among the countries with high Hepatitis-B Virus endemic, which is why this new vaccine is being introduced in the country.

Dr. Phooko explained that the age at which a person becomes infected with Hepatitis-B virus is the main factor determining the outcome. He said among the children under five years of age who become infected, fewer than 10% are symptomatic, whereas 80 to 90 % of infants infected during the first year of life and 30-50% of children infected between 1 and 4 years of age develop the chronic condition." The primary routes of spread are from mother to baby, child to child, through unsafe injections and blood transfusions as well as through sexual contact." He elaborated.

The Minister has strongly urged the parents and children's guardians to take their children to the clinics so that they could receive this vaccine. Hepatitis-B vaccine will be given at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of live, and like all vaccines is free of charge. The existing Health Book will be maintained.

22 August 2003