Cameroon: Vaccinating Against Their Will

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Yaoundé — The growing number of child deaths from diarrhoea in Cameroon has necessitated the introduction of a new vaccine (RotaTeq) designed to protect babies under five against common types of rotaviruses that cause diarrhoea.

But growing skepticism over new vaccines, and lack of potable water and proper hygiene could thwart such public health efforts, experts say.

“Diarrhoea is one of the top killers of children under five in Cameroon, responsible for more than 5,800 deaths in children under five yearly,” Desire Noulna of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) told IPS.

There is suspicion and mistrust of vaccines among different communities in Cameroon.

According to GAVI, a public-private alliance to boost immunisation, rotavirus kills more than 600 children every day in Africa, and thousands more are hospitalised or require clinic visits.

Source: AllAfrica (link opens in a new window)

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Health Care
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public health