CARPHA urges Member States to maintain vaccine coverage while fighting COVID-19 pandemic

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. 29 April 2020.  Although
there is no vaccine against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19),
vaccinations against seasonal influenza and measles are available to
prevent respiratory illness and vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks
during the COVID-19 pandemic. If vaccination programmes are not
continued, more people are likely to get sick from vaccine-preventable
diseases, thus increasing the burden on the already strained health
systems.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a
newly discovered coronavirus.  The virus is transmitted mainly via small
respiratory droplets through sneezing, coughing, or when people
interact with each other for some time in close proximity (usually less
than two metres). 

Given the outbreak of COVID-19 in the Caribbean region, it is important that people take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their loved ones.   Because the virus is new and different it requires its own vaccine.   Research is currently underway to develop a vaccine.

Dr Joy St John, Executive Director at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) states, “Safe and effective vaccines have been available and used for over 60 years, and vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent influenza, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.  Once a COVID-19 vaccination becomes available  in the Caribbean, CARPHA is assured that the same care and due diligence would have been in place in developing the vaccine, as has been in place for the development of vaccines against respiratory illnesses.”  

The Caribbean has long been a leader among regions of the world, as
our countries have applied high standards in the delivery of vaccination
programmes.  While successfully maintaining a measles-free status since
1991, the Caribbean has also been eradicated of endemic smallpox in
1971, polio in 1994, and rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in
2015.  The health of the general public improved drastically with the
vaccinations that allowed children to survive because they no longer
developed severe measles infections.

If we fall behind in our immunisation programmes we run the risk of
recurrence of measles and other previously eradicated diseases.  In
light of this, CARPHA is urging governments to continue to maintain
their vaccine coverage as a matter of priority, so Ministries of Health
do not have to manage outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases like
measles, while fighting the COVID-2019 pandemic. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends annual vaccination,
which is especially important for health workers and people at higher
risk of serious influenza complications, such as the very young,
pregnant women, the elderly and chronically ill persons, and for people
who live with or care for high risk individuals.

Dr. St. John explains that the primary form of transmission for
COVID-19 and the flu are through the movement of droplets between
persons and direct physical contact with the virus even on surfaces. 
She added that large social events can create serious public health
challenges because persons are often crowded together, making spread of
COVID-19 from person to person very easy.

CARPHA encourages persons to continue to practice good personal
hygiene in order to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19), influenza and other respiratory viruses.  Good
hygiene measures that persons can take include:

·       Covering your mouth with a tissue or sneezing or coughing into the crook of your elbow.

·       Safely disposing of used tissues.

·       Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20
seconds after coughing and sneezing and before and after meal
preparation, eating and using the toilets. Alternatively, you may use an
alcohol-based hand-sanitizer.

·       Avoiding contact with others by staying home if you are sick.

·       Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces regularly.

This year, between April 25 and May 2, 2020, CARPHA joins its
partners and the rest of the world in celebrating the 18th annual
Vaccination Week in the Americas with the slogan “Love. Trust. Protect.
#GetVax.” This year’s campaign seeks to bring to mind the love people
have for their children, themselves, and their communities; the trust in
vaccines´ ability to save lives; and the protection they provide from
diseases for everyone, everywhere.

“To maintain our community protection, we call on Ministries of
Health to implement catch-up campaigns.  This will ensure that a person
completes their vaccination schedule in the shortest, but effective time
frame.  Continued vigilance is important, and general practitioners
should remain alert and take the appropriate actions in suspected cases
of vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Dr. St. John.